Food recalls and contamination are nothing new. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nearly 48 million people in the US alone come down with a foodborne illness every year. For the vast majority those illnesses will result in a minor bout of sickness, however, for those who come down with Listeriosos the results can be much worse.
Listeriosos, an illness brought on by Listeria monoctyogenes bacteria, is a pretty nasty bug. Aside from causing fever, vomiting and diarrhea, doctors say that some 18% of those infected with Listeria monoctyogenes die from the disease. Though most of its victims are the very old or very young, its lethality is nothing to be trifled with.
To help combat this disease an international consortium of six organizations are using research done at the University of Southampton to develop a sensor that can help detect and eliminate L. monocytogenes on site.
Built around a sensor that uses compressed air and water to isolate its target microbes and biofilms, the device named Biolisme will isolate and test potential pathogens directly on the surfaces where they’re most likely to grow. Once its targets are isolated and collected a specially created antibody will be introduced to suspected L. monocytogenes samples. This will cause the samples to fluoresce if the pathogen is present.
Designed to be simple, quick and straightforward, the Biolisme could bring about a revolution in food safety simply by allowing pathogen audits to take place on site. In general, food safety inspections occur offsite, meaning samples have to be sent to far off labs. All of this transit to and fro not only risks contamination of the sample, it takes days for the sender to receive word if a food product is bacteria free. Obviously, that’s a major problem.
"The scientific research we have carried out at the University of Southampton has been used by our Biolisme project partners to develop a device which will have major implications for the food industry," said Dr Gião. "By making the process simpler we hope that testing will be conducted more frequently, thereby reducing the chance of infected food having to be recalled or making its way to the consumer."
Still in its prototype stages researchers are confident that their new sensor will be available in the field within short order. As of now, on-site trials using the Biolisme sensor have just been completed in France and live demonstrations in food processing plants are expected shortly. If all goes according to plan the Biolisme sensor could help ramp up food safety standards within a few short years, possibly saving thousands of lives across the globe and sparing countless individuals from potentially life-threatening circumstances.
Image Courtesy of University of Southhampton