Seward Limited, manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher^® Paddle Blender range, announces a highly successful year for sales of its Stomacher^® 3500 large volume sample preparation systems. This follows recent changes to USDA Escherichia coli 0157:H7 testing protocols, where an expanded description of how its Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) confirms and reports on this virulent food pathogen was published¹. 

All meat products consumed (whether locally produced or exported) within the US must have undergone the recently renewed FSIS E.coli 0157:H7 testing protocols. Within these, the volume of sample and diluents has been increased to 125 g of food sample in 1.25 L broth to maximise the opportunity for pathogen detection. Detailed within the revised Laboratory Guidebook chapter on ‘Detection, Isolation and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Meat Products', a Stomacher 3500 is used for the sample preparation of varying quantities and types of meat sample.

The Stomacher 3500 range, including Stomacher bags, is available specifically for large volume (400 ml to 3.5 L) blending and extraction, where all the washing solution or solvent is required to be retained for microbiological analysis.

"The Stomacher 3500 is unrivalled in the market of large volume sample blending and extraction, making it ideal for routine sample preparation of a variety of products for microbiological testing," said Stuart Ray, Technical Director, Seward. "This is due to its quality, robust components which make it extremely durable, even when processing the largest and toughest of samples. In fact we have examples of these large systems still going strong after 20 years of hard service in many industrial settings!"

For further information on Seward's Stomacher^® 3500 and other sample preparation products, please visit: www.seward.co.uk

Reference 1: Detection, Isolation and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Meat Products. USDA, FSIS Laboratory Guidebook, Chapter MLG 5.04. Revision 1/28/2008.