News

In Germany, one could not imagine Advent time without Christmas markets. Check out our infographic to learn more about this tradition – and find out exactly what is in a cup of mulled wine.

St. Nicholas Day is an important sales driver for the food industry. But what exactly are we celebrating on December 6? Here are some interesting St. Nicholas facts – and 5 tips for filling a [...]

Water soluble vitamins are a great challenge to detect in foodstuff. Different concentration levels and the extraction from various food matrices need different analytical methods and tools for [...]

In the USA, Thanksgiving will be celebrated this Thursday. On this occasion, we have collected some useful tips to make your Thanksgiving dinner a success.

For anyone who suffers from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, beer has long been off-limits. Fortunately, this has changed in recent years and celiacs now have access to an increasingly broad [...]

More and more people suffer from lactose intolerance. This leads to an increased demand for lactose-free foods. Here’s what food producers should know about lactose-free milk, legal regulations and [...]

The use of the broad-spectrum antibiotic Chloramphenicol (CAP) is totally banned world-wide since many years. As an alternative substance, Florfenicol is widely used, mainly in veterinary medicine. [...]

New regulations, new processes and not least new technologies are constantly changing laboratory work. Regular training courses for laboratory personnel are more important than ever.

From gluten-free to lactose-free, nut-free, egg-free and low-histamine: the market for “free from” food is growing. But can you trust the information on the label? This has been investigated in [...]

Summer is peak season for salmonella – and it’s not only eggs and poultry that are affected. All companies involved in the manufacture or processing of food should be alert.

Contamination with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus (often shortened to S. diastaticus) is currently a hot topic in the beer industry. Breweries worldwide are affected. For [...]

For the detection of mycotoxins, liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS/MS) has become very popular in recent years. Laboratories with high sample throughput are especially [...]

30 years ago, R-Biopharm was founded as a working group with only six employees. Today, it’s a leading developer of test solutions with more than 1,000 employees and subsidiaries and [...]

Pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella and Listeria are serious food safety risks and found in various raw materials and foodstuff. Our infographic shows the most common pathogens found in [...]

Did you eat fish on today’s International Sushi Day? Then it is quite possible that you have not been served the exact fish that you have ordered. Several recent studies show that adulteration and [...]

Listeria is currently causing problems in many places: in Europe, frozen corn was recalled; melons led to illness and death of several persons in Australia; and South Africa is experiencing the [...]

Whether for cats, dogs, poultry, cattle or pigs: animal feed should be healthy and free from contaminants. Several product recalls have recently shown that this is not always the case. We show you [...]

It’s Coeliac Awareness Week in Australia. Reason enough for us to focus on gluten-free food, a food segment of increasing importance. Check out our infographic for some interesting facts you [...]

In two weeks’ time, in Amsterdam, the World Mycotoxin Forum will take place for the 10th time. This year, we will meet to share our experiences with mycotoxin testing and also talk about its [...]

Mycotoxins are a major problem for global agriculture, with contaminations regularly causing crop losses. Reference materials, as part of quality assurance, are indispensable to reliably detect mycotoxins.

It’s a case that has caused serious concern not only in France: salmonella was found in baby food from a French dairy company. More than 12 million cans of baby milk were recalled – and the scandal [...]

Shrimps showing antibiotic contamination is not a new problem, but with the latest product recall of shrimps in Germany, it’s back in the headlines again. So should you stop eating shrimps?

Lactoferrin is a very powerful protein: it has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-allergic properties. Lactoferrin isolated from bovine milk is therefore [...]

Histamine is a biogenic amine which is naturally present in many foodstuffs – also in wine. Some people react to high histamine foods with headaches or other symptoms. More and more winemakers are [...]

In general, beer is not a likely habitat for microbes: alcohol content, low pH value, CO2 and hop compounds make beer a rather hostile environment for most microorganisms. However, some bacteria and [...]

The first validated allergen reference materials for food analysis – MoniQA Milk Reference Materials Restructuring of the SureFood® ALLERGEN real-time PCR kits GMO (genetically modified organisms) – [...]

Mycotoxins are among the most important topics in food safety. However, analysis poses some challenges for laboratories as detection is a difficult task, and therefore, mycotoxins go undetected [...]

Virus infections occur more often in winter; however, outbreaks during the warm months are not uncommon. Besides direct contact with an infected person, contaminated food is an important source of [...]

Climate change and an adaption to the EU regulation have made it possible: wine can be cultivated in more and more regions. This brings new challenges for winemakers – not least in the field of [...]

Bees are of great importance for humans: these busy little animals not only produce delicious honey, but also pollinate our crop plants – and thereby ensure our food production. However, even bees [...]

Codex standard, AOAC certification, R5 or G12 antibody: What does really matter in gluten analysis? We have collected 10 questions about gluten analysis that everyone in the food industry should be [...]

Dekkera bruxellensis yeast, among winemakers and brewers also known as Brettanomyces bruxellensis (or „Brett“for short), strongly influences the flavor of wine and beer. The change in taste is either [...]

Grain harvest is well under way. This brings mycotoxins such as aflatoxin and ochratoxin into the focus again. However, also the less known mycotoxins T-2 and HT-2 toxin are a threat to harvest. This [...]

Spices are essential for food production, but just like cereals, spices are often contaminated with mycotoxins. Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin are particularly prevalent in spices. In order to ensure safe [...]

Mycotoxins are a big threat to agriculture. Particularly in developing countries, crops are often contaminated with mycotoxins – with dangerous consequences for the population. Modern technology can [...]

Watch out chocolate lovers: Saturday is „National Pralines Day“. Whether creamy, fruity or crunchy – pralines are something for every taste. It would be a pity if allergy sufferers had to give up [...]

Food fraud is a major problem for the beverage industry. High-priced spirits such as single malt whiskies are particularly subject to fraud. Here’s what you should know about food fraud in the [...]

Enzytec™ Liquid Sucrose/D-Glucose (E8180) Enzytec™ Liquid Sucrose/D-Glucose/D-Fructose (E8190) Extension of the qualitative SureFood® ANIMAL ID Real-time PCR kits Cronobacter sakazakii PLUS in [...]

Last year, a study on food fraud attracted attention in Europe: one out of three fish dishes wasn’t what is said on the menu. Consumers and authorities were alarmed and called for stricter controls. [...]

June 1 is World Milk Day: a good reason to take a closer look at this tasty drink, which is very nutritious, but also an ideal breeding ground for harmful microorganisms.

Food allergens are in the focus of two upcoming events: The 2nd Food Allergen Management Symposium (FAMS 2017) which will start on Sunday in Australia, and shortly thereafter the Free From Food Expo [...]

The 20th Food Allergy Awareness Week will start on Sunday – a good opportunity to draw attention to a fairly unknown food intolerance: histamine intolerance. Here are five questions and answers to [...]

Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic used for the treatment of various bacterial infections. Though the drug is banned from use in livestock, it is still often detected in food of animal origin – posing [...]

Proficiency testing (PT) is an important element of quality assurance in laboratories. There are many providers which organize such ring trials. Here’s what to look for when choosing a proficiency [...]

Listeria are among the main causes of food poisoning. Recently, there has been an increasing number of product recalls due to Listeria contamination. How great is the risk really?

Colorfully painted eggs are an essential part of the Easter festivities, not only in Germany. But what exactly is inside an egg? We started to search and came across 7 interesting egg constituents. [...]

The RIDA®SMART APP V3.0 is a breakthrough update making it the fastest available LFD reader for mycotoxin analysis with improved scan speed, better camera functionality, user classification features, [...]

Ever since the horsemeat scandal it is clear that our food isn’t always what we think it is. Food fraud cases emerge again and again – and consumers are increasingly concerned. Here are five food [...]

Gluten-free food: Standards and regulations you should know about Optimized RIDASCREEN® Chloramphenicol RIDA®SMART APP Analyser SET Changes in RIDA®STAMP product line Information from R-Biopharm [...]

Mycotoxins are a major concern for the grain industry. In Europe, the last year has been particularly demanding as the damp weather promoted mildew and, thus, the formation of mycotoxins. The high [...]

Verotoxin-producing EHEC bacteria are a common cause of food-borne infections. Here’s what food producers should know about the risk associated with the pathogen and the methods of detection.

Together with the Fresenius University and the Geisenheim University, R-Biopharm is developing an improved ELISA method for the detection of food allergens. The federal state of Hesse is providing [...]

Certified reference material plays a decisive role in food analysis. But so far, suitable material was missing for allergen analysis. Now, MoniQA Association has presented the first validated [...]

Producers of gluten-free food must comply with certain requirements in terms of labelling, manufacturing and analysis. From Codex Alimentarius to the AOECS standard and EU regulations: We have [...]

Horse meat in lasagna, antifreeze agents in wine or false declared fish: There are many examples for food fraud. The deliberate consumer deception is not only unappetizing – it can be very dangerous [...]

Christmas time is here: A time for love, family – and candy. Last year, more than USD 600 million were spent on Christmas candy in the US. But not everybody can enjoy gingerbread, sugar cookies and [...]

Reference materials are indispensable in food analysis. Being an important component of quality assurance, they contribute to reliable and precise results. Here’s what you should know about them.

RIDASCREEN®FAST Cashew RIDASCREEN® Streptomycin Yeasts and molds in the Compact Dry portfolio: Compact Dry YMR – to detect yeast and mold in 48 – 72 hours! RIDASCREEN® Gliadin – AOAC Official [...]

Fungal infections can reduce crop yields and can also give rise to mycotoxin contamination. There are many different types of mycotoxins and they often occur simultaneously. Test methods which detect [...]

Quality assurance is an important issue for every laboratory. If you want to ensure that your lab produces accurate and precise results, proficiency testing is an indispensable measure. Here’s what [...]

Cashew is a popular snack and also an important ingredient for confectionery and cereal products. Yet, its allergenic potential is often underestimated. For nut allergy sufferers, cashew can be a [...]

In allergen analysis, lateral flow tests are mainly used for cleaning control. Yet, these handy dipsticks can do more than just test surfaces for allergen residues. Newer models are also suitable for [...]

They turn food rancid, cause unwanted fermentation or leave a musty taste: Molds and yeasts are among the most important spoilage agents. However, these harmful microorganisms often cause [...]

Do you work in the field of food analysis? Are you interested in new trends and technologies and want to know how to make your everyday laboratory work more effective? Then it’s time to visit the [...]

Foods like infant formula, baby food and dairy drinks are often fortified with vitamins. Since manufacturers must ensure that the labelled level of vitamin is actually present in the product, [...]

Quebec, October 4th, 2016 – The German company R-Biopharm, one of the largest food diagnostics companies worldwide, is establishing a new Centre of Expertise on food allergen management in [...]

The world is celebrating “World Egg Day” today. It’s no surprise that eggs are popular: they are affordable, versatile, tasty and packed with proteins. However, eggs are a major allergy trigger, too. [...]

Dekkera bruxellensis is considered the most important spoilage yeast in the wine industry. It causes severe off-flavors of sweat, leather or horse. Early detection of a possible contamination is [...]

Next week, the trade fair „World of Technology & Science“ will open its doors in Utrecht, Netherlands. We will be present, and of course, we are especially looking forward to the laboratory area. [...]

Peanut allergy is one of the most common and most serious food allergies. Even small amounts may be fatal. Here’s what you should know about peanuts as allergy triggers – and about detecting [...]

People suffering from celiac disease or gluten intolerance must strictly avoid gluten. That’s often difficult especially when it comes to ready meals. We show you which meals might contain hidden [...]

R-Biopharm on the web New parameter in the Compact Dry portfolio: Compact Dry PA – for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa RIDA®SMART APP: Mycotoxin-App gets another update to RIDA®SMART APP V1.3 Simple [...]

September is National Honey Month in the USA. As it marks the end of the honey collection season, it’s a good moment to focus on the natural sweetener – which is not always as natural as one might [...]

Doping was again a big topic during the Olympic Games. One of the prohibited substances is Clenbuterol – a drug also used for fattening livestock due to its anabolic effect. Drug residues remain in [...]

Once again this autumn, we are offering a series of workshops on food analysis. From allergens to mycotoxins and pathogens: in our hands-on training you will learn more about the different analytical [...]

For laboratories carrying out routine mycotoxin analysis and running large numbers of samples every day, it makes good sense to investigate the possibility of automation. Novel [...]

Many farmers are currently concerned about Fusarium fungi: The humid climate of this year has created ideal conditions for moulds. The fungal toxins could cost farmers a significant part of their [...]

Raise your glass: the first Friday in August is International Beer Day – a perfect day to enjoy a tasty brew. But unfortunately, beer doesn’t always taste as expected: beer spoilers can leave an [...]

In the last months, the RIDA®SMART APP for mycotoxin analysis has received much attention. Now, there’s a new update for the innovative software for quantitative analysis of mycotoxins. Here’s what [...]

The 7th of July is World Chocolate Day: An excellent moment to put the spotlight on that tasty treat. According to the statistics, we eat around 9 kg of chocolate per year. Yet, many people must [...]

The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen. Together with E. coli, legionella and enterococci, it is one of the most dangerous bacteria in drinking water and also one of the most [...]

RIDA®QUICK Gliadin: rapid assay for gluten receives AOAC-approval The next generation of mycotoxin quantification:RIDA®SMART APP RIDA®QUICK Soya: Extraction of food samples with RIDA®QUICK Soya [...]

Food producers have to comply with specific limit values for mycotoxins. For regular analysis of different mycotoxin concentrations in cereals, multi-toxin analyses are an effective alternative. Such [...]

Since the RIDA®SMART APP is available, analyzing mycotoxins is easier and faster. Now, we have made the smartphone app even more powerful and user-friendly. In addition to some technical [...]

For International Coeliac Day, we are taking a closer look at gluten. Although there has been an increased awareness of food allergies and intolerances in recent years, there is often still [...]

Next week, the „International Association for Food Protection“ (IAFP) will hold their European Symposium on Food Safety in Athens. From bacterial and viral contamination in food to beverage spoilers [...]

In just two weeks, the “analytica” will open its doors. The international trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology is being held for the 25th time. The fair gives an insight [...]

Whether you want to analyze wine, beer, fruit juices, sweets, dairy or meat products: Enzymatic methods for the determination of sugar, acid, alcohol and other food components have become an [...]

The fungal toxin citrinin is a major problem in many cereals and particularly in red yeast rice. Since red yeast rice is becoming more and more popular, the demand for methods for the analysis of [...]

Food intolerances and allergies are increasing worldwide. Whether lactose, gluten, soy or egg: allergens pose new challenges to food producers. The latest food trends and the aspects food producers [...]

In two months we will be on our way: On June 6, “WMF meets IUPAC” opens its doors in Winnipeg. It’s the world’s biggest conference on mycotoxins and we’re still busy planning. Today, we want to give [...]

Easter is just around the corner and thus, one particular type of food is in focus again: the Easter egg. We have put together 8 tips concerning eggs to ensure successful Easter holidays.

A few weeks ago, we featured an article about the rapid gluten test RIDA®QUICK Gliadin. This handy gluten test strip can be used for swabbing surfaces directly on-site without any equipment, [...]

RIDA®SMART APP: The simple mycotoxin analysis in your hand New generation of RIDASCREEN®FAST Vitamin B12 RIDA®QUICK Aflatoxin RQS ECO New application for RIDASCREEN® Nitrofuran assays New test format [...]

An exciting time begins for all the wine enthusiasts: Most wineries have started bottling the 2015 vintage a few weeks ago. Soon, there will be the first presentations of the new vintage – which [...]

On 7th March, it’s “healthy eating day” in Germany. This annual event was called into life by the German Food and Dietetics Association (VFED). For this occasion, we take a closer look at some [...]

Many people get confused about nut allergies: Which nuts are safe to eat, and which aren’t? Are pistachios considered nuts at all? And which cross-allergies may occur? For World Pistachio Day, we [...]

Lately, there has been an increase in the presence of ochratoxin A in dried figs. Our colleagues from R-Biopharm Rhône have summarized the most important information for you.

If you have histamine intolerance, you must avoid many foods: Histamine is present in a lot of products from eggs and cheese to meat and fish. If you don’t want to give up eating fish, here’s how to [...]

Nuts are a tasty snack. We love them in pecan pie, in mueslis, cereal bars, chocolates and in hazelnut spreads. Plus, nuts are said to have positive health effects. Yet, nuts may be contaminated with [...]

When detecting mycotoxins in food, speed is a decisive factor. It is essential that the analysis can be performed on-site within a minimum of time. Now there is a new solution for mycotoxin analysis: [...]

Hygiene plays a key role in food production. Microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, yeasts and molds can spoil food and may cause a risk to health. Regular monitoring throughout the production [...]

Antibiotic residues in food have become a hot topic in recent years. There is widespread uncertainty: How dangerous are drug residues to consumers? And how can you be sure that your food is free of [...]

The New Year 2016 has begun: A good moment to put your plans into action. You don’t have New Year’s resolutions yet and need a little inspiration? We’ve got an idea here: Enhance your [...]

Christmas is just around the corner and R-Biopharm is getting into the Christmas spirit. This article is dedicated to a typical German Christmas tradition: the “Lebkuchen” (gingerbread).

Microbiological contamination by bacteria, molds or viruses may not only occur in food. Pharmaceutical and cosmetic products may be contaminated, too. Microorganisms spoil the product and may be [...]

Soya is becoming more and more popular not only among vegetarians. But there’s more to soya than tofu: The „miracle bean“ takes on important tasks in the food and technical industry. Here’s [...]

Is this the next case of food fraud after the horsemeat scandal? Examiners recently analyzed seafood dishes in Brussels (Belgium). The appalling result: Every third seafood dish served in restaurants [...]

When producing gluten-free food, you have to comply with a lot of legal regulations: Certain limit values must be met and regular analyses must be carried out. Avoiding contamination is a big [...]

Organic solvents always played an important role in mycotoxin analysis.  However they have a negative impact on the environment and impose a hazard for the lab technician.

ELISA is nowadays one the most used methods in food analysis. ELISA’s are used for mycotoxin testing, allergens, antibiotics, vitamins, pathogens – just to name a few. When you use ELISA [...]

We hope you enjoyed the summer and had lots’ of sunshine. Maybe you enjoyed some ice-cream too? From a risk assessment point of view ice cream is typically associated with microbiological hazards or [...]

The first Friday of every August is international beer day. An excellent moment to put the spotlight on 2 quite different quality aspects of beer: gluten content and beer spoilage.

It is hard to imagine great tasting food without using spices. Yet, did you know spices can be associated with various food hazards? In the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) herbs [...]

May 4th – 10th is UK coffee week. This is a nationwide fundraising initiative in the UK where coffee operators, trade professionals and customers raise funds to give back to the communities which [...]

Scientists from the Northwest A&F University published a study about ochratoxin A in wine produced in China. The concentration of ochratoxin A depends on various factors in winemaking.

Does automation only make sense for large laboratories with a high sample throughput? The answer is: no, not anymore!

Small things can make big differences. A compact design, easy handling and long shelf life make RIDA®STAMP a perfect tool in food microbiology testing. With RIDA®STAMP we offer you an extensive range [...]

Mycotoxin contamination of grains continues to cause problems for food and feed safety. A recent survey of last year’s maize harvest  in Poland showed high numbers of Fusarium toxin [...]

Participating in a proficiency testing (PT) program is a key element in solid quality assurance system. In cooperation with DRRR we now offer you the option to join one of the many programs in food [...]

January 16 is “International Hot and Spicy Food Day”. A good moment to draw the attention to a hot topic: The occurrence of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in spices.

Much easier and user friendly: The new Lumitester PD-30 (Art. No. ZLT1402653) from Kikkoman is now available! Using the new device ATP/AMP measurement becomes much easier and user friendlier than before!

The recent outbreaks of the avian influenza subtype H5N8 in three European countries had substantial economic effects for poultry farms. For eradication actions, the animals of the affected farms had [...]

Sustainable excellence in longterm and profitable growth awarded   After awards in 2010 and 2013, R-Biopharm AG has won the Deloitte Sustained Excellence Award for the third time in a row this [...]

Norovirus-Hepatitis A test: Detection by combined reverse transcriptase multiplex real-time PCR The new multiplex real-time PCR Norovirus Hepatitis A test kit SureFast® Norovirus/Hepatitis A 3plex [...]

Test kit easy to use and rapid   Fish and fish meal can be easily analysed to histamine with the new test system RIDASCREEN® Histamin (enzymatic). Test gives reliable and robust results, [...]

Cheese analysis – a challenge detecting Aflatoxin M1   Cheese is a challenging matrix for aflatoxin M1 analysis, but scientists in Brazil using R-Biopharm AFLAPREP® M immunoaffinity [...]

Validation: the crucial component of reliable food microbiology testing   We are highlighting the importance of product validation in the field of food microbiology in this second volume of [...]

AFLAOCHRA PREP® columns recommended for baby food analysis In the April 2014 issue of Journal of Chromatography A 1337: 75-84, Desmarchelier et al., from Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland, and [...]

Screening test for bacitracin in milk, meat, eggs, feed and urine   RIDASCREEN® Bacitracin is a competitive enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative screening of bacitracin in milk, meat, eggs, [...]

Food Safety Applications Overview Good understanding of microbiological aspects of food production as well as awareness of possible microbial contaminations of foodstuffs is crucial for the general [...]

A steady stream of publications continues to confirm the widespread occurrence of mycotoxins and builds on existing knowledge. Oritz et al., (December 2013) in Food Additives & Contaminants have [...]

Scientists from Sun Yat-Sen University (Guangzhou, China) have developed an improved procedure for water-soluble multi-vitamin analysis. Heng Zhang et al. in the June 2014 issue of Food Chemistry [...]

EFSA has recently delivered an Opinion on the risks for public health related to a possible increase of the maximum level (ML) of deoxynivalenol (DON) for certain semi-processed cereal products from [...]

A major problem of gluten analysis is the background contamination of cereal dust in the laboratory. Therefore, it is of prime importance to clean the lab with 60 % Ethanol before starting the [...]

Particularly innovative:  the first ANIMAL ID Multiplex real-time PCR test kit beef-sheep-goat   Multiplex real-time PCR test kit beef-sheep-goat- small and large ruminants in combination with [...]

β-Agonists such as Clenbuterol, Salbutamol and Ractopamine shift energy intake from fat deposition to muscle formation. Therefore, β-Agonists can be used as growth promoters (‘finishers’) in animal [...]

Since September 2013, residues of the antibiotic chloramphenicol have been detected in various imported enzyme products by the Rapid Alert System for Food & Feed of the European Union (RASFF). As [...]

Time savings due to three paramters in one run and included Internal Amplification Control (IAC) provides an inhibition control for each sample without any additional effort. 4-channel system of [...]

GEN-IAL developed a multiplex real-time PCR method to detect and differentiate Alicyclobacillus species in fruit juices and concentrates.

Nitrofurans are synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics, which are frequently used in animal production due to their excellent antibacterial and pharmacokinetic properties. They have also been used as [...]

Finally, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a new regulation for the amount of gluten that may be present in foods marketed as gluten-free. The limit was set to 20 ppm (parts per [...]

Nowadays, the wine industry tries to reduce the dependence of soil, climate and weather conditions in the wine production. This is achieved by an increased microbiological control of wines. Due to [...]

R-Biopharm is proud to announce the RIDASCREEN® Gliadin ELISA, for the detection and quantification of gluten in foods has been accepted by AOAC International as Official First Action method. The [...]

Topics of R-Biopharm News 3/2011 Escherichia coli – A Pathogen with many Faces RIDA®GENE Norovirus I & II LC2.0: Norovirus test kit now also available for Roche LightCycler® 2.0 RIDA®GENE [...]