Recently, there have been a number of oyster recalls due to Norovirus contaminations. But what actually are noroviruses, what are sources of contamination and how can the viruses be detected?
We often get the question: “Why do you have a gluten PCR in your portfolio?” A valid question indeed, because gluten is the general name for the proteins in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. [...]
Salmonella are rod-shaped bacteria that cause infections in the gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals and can often be fatal. The treatment of salmonella has become a billion-dollar [...]
Standardization of methods, a more efficient lab routine, and saving time and resources. Automation has many advantages. We answer the most important questions about automation.
Microorganisms transform sugar contained in must into alcohol and carbon dioxide in a process known as fermentation, which results in the production of wine. Winemakers (and brewers) have two [...]
Sesame seeds are a common ingredient in the food industry. Yet, sesame seeds are a tremendously strong allergen and the prevalence of sesame seed allergy has been increasing in recent years.
Extraction of nucleic acids is a vital part of real-time PCR and is often challenging due to several factors such as the high variability of sample matrices and inhibitory substances like plant [...]
Tap water contaminated with Legionella can cause severe infections. Water pipes that are not used regularly are particularly susceptible to the colonization of bacteria – a problem especially now [...]
When testing for allergens in food, most laboratories use immunological methods such as ELISA. However, real-time PCR can provide distinct advantages.
The spread of the coronavirus is causing concern worldwide. Because knowledge of this novel virus is still limited, there is much speculation. For example, there are fears that the virus may also [...]
Real-time PCR has proved to be a reliable and efficient analysis method in many areas. For laboratories who have avoided up to now the investments for PCR analysis, a new compact PCR cycler now [...]
Off-flavors, turbidity and even exploding bottles: During the last years, the yeast S. diastaticus has caused trouble to several craft brewers. Detecting a contamination before it spoils your [...]
Listeria is a hot topic these days – not only in Germany. The risk posed by these pathogenic bacteria is often underestimated.
Brettanomyces yeasts cause the so-called “Brett“ off-flavor: an unpleasant smell of horse stable, leather, sweat or even urine. Early detection of a possible contamination is of great interest [...]
In general, beer is not a likely habitat for microorganisms: the alcohol content, the low pH value, the anaerobic atmosphere, the hop bitters and the limited nutrient supply make beer a rather [...]
Deceptive labelling, prohibited additives or the substitution of expensive ingredients with cheaper components: During a global raid against food fraud, Interpol seized counterfeit goods worth [...]
Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning in the EU with over 100,000 reported illnesses every year. During the warm months, the number of cases increases.
It’s a report that causes concern: a recent investigation found that every second chicken sold in Germany is contaminated with diarrhoea-causing Campylobacter. Here’s what you should know about [...]
In order to protect allergics, allergenic ingredients must be labelled. When testing for allergens in food, most laboratories use immunological methods such as ELISA. The use of PCR in allergen [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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.
