Enzymes are intricate, stable, globular
proteins that serve as catalysts in chemical reactions. These reagents reduce
the activation energy in order to increase the rate of the reaction at the same
temperature. Their stability prevents them from being consumed like other
reagents in the reaction. While they can accelerate chemical reactions by more
than 1,000 times, the effect of enzymes can either be enhanced by promoters, or
reduced by inhibitors. Most industrial enzymes are obtained from microorganisms
like fungi and bacteria, though they can also be obtained from animal and plant
sources, unless they are activated.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Microbiology Quality Assurance: Rapid Yeast and Mold Detection
Mold and yeast are agents which can be responsible for
contamination as well as spoilage in most products. A lot of these agents can
develop something known as mycotoxins which can infuse itself into the product.
If this is done in large quantities, it can cause poisoning. According to the
American Society for Microbiology the presence of yeast can affect the product
salability and quality, which can lead to significant financial loss
for the food supplier. This is why rapid
yeast and mold testing is important so that your organization will remain
efficient and hygienic. Microbiology quality assurance can help you detect
yeast, mold and other agents that may contaminate your products.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Quality Control in the Food and Beverage Industry: The Significance of Coliform Testing
Complying with U.S Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) laws and regulations related to safe food
handling and water sanitation is important for all manufacturers of food and
beverage products and water bottling facilities. This is particularly essential
in meat, poultry and daily industries where food items are usually at a high
risk of contamination by bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and etc.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Understanding Quality Assurance in the Food Industry: Microbiological Testing of Yogurt
While yogurt is generally viewed as a
health food there are specific dangers for the consumers and the manufacturers.
The most important of these is the presence of harmful microorganisms. The main
investigative procedures to determine the health of yogurt is testing
for yeast, mold and the presence of coliform. Traditional testing methods
tend to be slow and labor intensive. This makes them unsuitable for products
with a relatively short life such as yogurt. This has led to an interest in
more rapid methods of determine the safety of yogurt before it is delivered to store
shelves.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Rapid Microbiological Testing: Importance of E. coli Testing
Escherichia coli, which is abbreviated as E. coli, refers to the rod-shaped bacterium that occur naturally in the lower intestines of endotherms, or warm blooded organisms, including human beings, as well as reptiles and fish. While most of these gram-negative organisms are harmless, some of the serotypes can result in serious food poisoning due to food contamination, which is a common reason for product recalls. There are five strains of E. coli that cause diseases. Some of these diseases include hemolytic uremia, copious bloody discharge, unique diarrhea, and Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) class.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Quality Assurance: Microbial Testing of Cosmetics
The number of people using cosmetics continues to grow, and
the quantities consumed keep increasing every year. As the production
increases, the industry is faced with great concern regarding the microbial contamination of
personal care and cosmetic products. The implications of microorganism
contamination include massive product waste and financial losses for the
manufacturer, not to mention consumer injury or infection. While there are very
few cases of the latter happening, the occurrence of such episodes can
drastically impact the reputation of a brand.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Nutraceutical Rapid Microbiology Detection Systems
Consumers want quality assurance and the FDA is backing them with their cGMP guidelines. Many manufacturing companies are choosing to build in-house programs or signing up with contract labs to beat their existing microbiology quality assurance practices. As a manufacturer, you should always be prepared to test your raw materials and products for unacceptable levels of certain microorganisms.
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