3M Food Safety has launched a new Petrifilm Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate, an indicator test, providing food processors a solution for inoculation as well as a consistent way to interpret and enumerate colonies.
Unlike the agar testing methods which require a five to seven day incubation period, the 3M Petrifilm Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate allows detection of yeasts and molds in as little as 48 hours and improves time-to-result, productivity gains, finished goods inventory and product shelf life.
The system uses three-step process: Inoculation, Incubation and Enumeration with the flexibility of incubation at 25°C or 28°C. It results in blue-colored yeast and mold colonies and contains technological enhancements that prevent colonies from spreading or overlapping, providing superior interpretation.
Food processors can accumulate quantitative assessment of both yeast and molds together, or as a separate count by visually differentiating between the two forms of fungi.
3M Food Safety vice-president and general manager Mojdeh Poul said, "Yeast and mold indicator testing is extremely important for determining product freshness and quality, but the current testing process is so long that it can hold up a product's release for several days."
The 3M Petrifilm Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate can also be used for air, swab or surface contact environmental testing. It has been rigorously tested to perform on low and high water activity foods, and will essentially benefit processors of grain, fruit and dairy products.
