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DIN Standards Committee Food and Agricultural Products

Overview

This standard specifies a test method for detection of salmonella in food and animal feeding stuffs and isolates obtained from them, using the polymerase chain reaction including real-time PCR. This standard applies to - products intended for human consumption or as animal feeding stuffs, - environmental samples in the field of production and food treatment and - primary production. PCR is a molecular biological laboratory method enabling fast and selective reproduction of gene segments of specific pathogens in any sample. The PCR is used in the food sector to safely detect pathogenic microorganism like salmonella in a very short period of time. Due to the specification of a method in DIN 10135, which has been accepted by all interested parties, comparability of PCR results is ensured for salmonella detection. The problem of salmonella infestation presents a challenge both for agriculture as well as for the food industry. Following the conventional microbiological detection methods, the determination of the result takes at least three days and can take up to seven days. The quick test using PCR delivers results within a day. This saving of time influences the storage costs. In addition to cost savings on routine checks and the avoidance of costly recall actions caused by the delayed detection of contaminated batches, the aspect of preventative health protection of the population is also a significant advantage of the standardised method. The committee responsible for this standard is NA 057-01-06-01 AK "Polymerase-Kettenreaktion zum Nachweis von Mikroorganismen" ("Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of microorganisms") at DIN.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 057-01-06 AA - Microbiology of the food chain