Bacterial toxins
Detect contamination with bacterial toxins in food
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Bacterial toxins in food safety
Importance of controlling bacterial toxins
Certain bacteria produce toxins that can cause severe food poisoning when ingested. Managing and monitoring these bacterial toxins is crucial for food safety.
Common bacteria producing toxins
Staphylococcus enterotoxins (SET)
Species such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hyicus, and Staphylococcus intermedius produce one or more heat-stable proteins that act as enterotoxins (SET). These toxins are major causes of food poisoning, alongside Salmonella and Campylobacter. A population of 5 x 10⁵ cells of enterotoxin-producing S. aureus strains per gram of food is typically required to cause intoxication. However, other studies indicate that only 100 – 200 ng of Staphylococcus enterotoxins can trigger symptoms.
SET intoxications are frequently linked to a variety of foods, including pasta, meat products, ham, pies, chicken meat products, fish and fish products, milk and dairy products, ice cream, egg products, salads, pastries, and cake fillings. The enterotoxins from serological groups A, B, C, D, and E are particularly significant.
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)
Another significant toxin-producing bacterium is enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). These bacteria produce toxic substances known as verotoxin or shiga toxin, and are therefore also referred to as verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) or shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Infections with STEC/VTEC are among the most common food-related bacterial diseases and can be fatal. Common sources of contamination include raw meat and unpasteurized dairy products.
Key benefits of monitoring bacterial toxins
- Early detection: Identifying the presence of bacterial toxins quickly to prevent foodborne illnesses.
- Hygiene control: Ensuring proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks.
- Consumer safety: Protecting public health by preventing severe food poisoning outbreaks.
- Regulatory compliance: Meeting food safety standards and regulations.
Conclusion
Monitoring bacterial toxins in food is essential to ensure consumer safety and prevent foodborne illnesses. Utilizing effective testing and control measures helps identify and mitigate the risks associated with toxin-producing bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Implementing these measures is crucial for maintaining high food safety standards and protecting public health.
Product portfolio
| Product | Description | No. of tests/amount | Art. No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIDASCREEN® SET Total (96 tests) |
RIDASCREEN® SET Total is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the combined detection of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins A, B, C, D and E in fluid and solid foods as well as in bacterial cultures. Read more |
Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 breakable wells each), 96 determinations. |
R4105 |
| RIDASCREEN® SET A,B,C,D,E |
RIDASCREEN® SET A,B,C,D,E is a sandwich enzyme immunoassay for the identification of Staphylococcus enterotoxins A, B, C, D and E in fluid and solid foods as well as in bacterial cultures. Based on its sensitivity the RIDASCREEN® SET A,B,C,D,E test … Read more |
Microtiter plate with 96 wells (12 strips with 8 wells each), one strip is necessary for analysis of one sample, 12 tests in total. |
R4101 |
| Product | Description | No. of tests/amount | Art. No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Dry X-SA |
Usage of Compact Dry X-SA is a simple and safe test procedure for determination and quantification of Staphylococcus aureus in foods, cosmetics or raw materials – as well as pharmaceutical raw materials. The ready-to-use plates consist of a special … Read more |
HS9621: 100 nutrient plates, HS9622: 40 nutrient plates, four plates are packed in one aluminum bag. |
HS9621 / HS9622 |
| Compact Dry EC |
Usage of Compact Dry EC is a simple and safe test procedure for determination and quantification of coliform bacteria and E. coli in foods, cosmetics, water or raw materials – as well as pharmaceutical raw materials. The ready-to-use plates consist … Read more |
HS8781: 100 nutrient plates, HS8782: 40 nutrient plates (HS8782), four plates are packed in one aluminum bag. |
HS8781 / HS8782 |
| Product | Description | No. of tests/amount | Art. No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SureFast® Fecal Screen 4plex |
The SureFast® Fecal Screen 4plex is a multiplex real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of specific DNA sequences of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococci, Escherichia coli in water. Read more |
100 reactions | F5504 |
| SureFast® STEC 4plex ONE |
The SureFast® STEC 4plex ONE can be applied for the fast and simple isolation, detection and differentiation of specific DNA sequences of the Escherichia coli virulence factors stx1 (subtype a-d), stx2 (subtype a-g), eae and the Escherichia coli … Read more |
100 reactions | F5265 |
| SureFast® MRSA 4plex |
The SureFast® MRSA 4plex is a real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The test detects the SCCmec/orfX junction, the mecA/mecC-gene and a specific DNA sequence of … Read more |
100 reactions | F7117 |
| SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype II 4plex |
The SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype II 4plex is a multiplex real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of specific wzx gene DNA sequences of Escherichia coli O45, wbdl gene DNA sequences of Escherichia coli O111 and … Read more |
100 reactions | F5168 |
| SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype I 4plex |
The SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype I 4plex is a multiplex real-time PCR kit for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of specfifc wzx gene DNA sequences of Escherichia coli O121, O26 and O103. Read more |
100 reactions | F5167 |
| SureFast® Foodborne Pathogens 4plex |
The SureFast® Foodborne Pathogens 4plex is a multiplex real-time PCR for for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of Escherichia coli virulence factors (stx1 [subtype a-d], stx2 [subtype a-g]), Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella … Read more |
100 reactions | F5175 |
| SureFast®STEC Screening PLUS |
The SureFast® STEC Screening PLUS is a real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection of DNA sequences of the virulence factors stx1 (subtype a-d) and stx2 (subtype a-g) of Escherichia coli (STEC). Each reaction contains an internal … Read more |
100 reactions | F5105 |
| SureFast® Escherichia coli PLUS |
The test detects Escherichia coli DNA. Each reaction contains an internal amplification control (IAC). Read more |
100 reactions | F5157 |
| SureFast® EHEC/EPEC 4plex |
SureFast® EHEC/EPEC 4plex is a multiplex real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of DNA sequences of the virulence factors stx1 (subtype a-d), stx2 (subtype a-g), eae and the E. coli and Shigella spp. virulence factor … Read more |
100 reactions | F5128 |
| SureFast® Staphylococcus aureus PLUS |
The SureFast® Staphylococcus aureus PLUS is a real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection of a specific Staphylococcus aureus DNA sequence. Each reaction contains an internal amplification control (IAC). Read more |
100 reactions | F5116 |
