EU toughens pasteurisation testing
pasteurisation testing, which bring bloc into line with
international standards already in place.
On 6 May 2007, EU regulations adopt the fluorimetric method as the new standard in assessing the pasteurisation of milk, replacing the colorimetric methods used to measure Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) since the 1930s. Testing for alkaline phosphatase provides an indication of bacterial levels in dairy products and therefore the effectiveness of pasteurisation. Fluorimetic tests are more sensitive than colorimetric tests and can can cut the time it takes to get a result. The tougher requirements brings the EU into line with the stricter testing controls already in place in the US and other countries. Other regulations increase the sensitivity requirements for ALP testing criteria to 350mU/L of phenol per liter from the previous level of 500mU/L. The more stringent rules have forced dairy processors to look for more accurate pasteurisiation testing tools and is leading to the development of new products for the market. Advanced Instruments' Fluorophos Test System is one such product that meets the requirements, the company claims. The system offers a quick method of assessing ALP including those at low values, in milk from cows, sheep and goats, claims the manufacturer. Fluorophos offers precision, reproducibility, and a ten-fold improvement in test sensitivity, compared to previous methods, the company claims. The system also enables immediate process validation following, which improves hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) and food safety programs, claims Advanced Instruments. Ken Micciche, director of marketing at Advanced Instruments, said the new regulations would improve the accuracy of testing and improve consumer safety. "The Fluorophos Test System is the world's only 3-minute fluorimetric method with multiple international agency approvals," he said. The Fluorophos Test System uses a method approved by The International Dairy Federation (IDF 155), the International Standards Organisation, (ISO 11816), and the CEN European Standards Organisation. The Fluorophos system is also approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
