In a world where food safety is paramount, the need for rapid and reliable microbiological testing has never been more critical. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 600 million people fall ill each year from consuming contaminated food, leading to substantial economic losses and significant public health concerns. The food and beverage industry bears an annual cost of approximately $17.6 billion due to foodborne illnesses, making the implementation of robust food safety testing workflows essential for both consumer safety and industry sustainability.

The Need for Speed and Accuracy in Food Safety Testing
Traditional culture-based methods have long been considered the gold standard in microbiological testing. However, these methods often involve lengthy turnaround times, which can be detrimental to fast-moving supply chains. For instance, detecting Salmonella species using ISO reference standards can take three to five days. This delay is particularly problematic for perishable food items that require quick turnaround times to ensure safety and quality.

Benefits of Chromogenic Media
Chromogenic media offers multiple benefits that make it an attractive alternative to traditional methods:

1. Enhanced Selectivity and Specificity: Chromogenic media contains selective agents that inhibit the growth of non-target organisms while promoting the growth of target pathogens. This selectivity ensures accurate and reliable results, reducing the risk of false positives and negatives.
2. Ease of Use: Chromogenic media simplifies the testing process, making it accessible for laboratories with varying levels of expertise. This is particularly important given the current global shortage of skilled resources in the food industry.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: By streamlining workflows and reducing the need for multiple confirmatory tests, chromogenic media helps laboratories save on operational costs. The faster turnaround time also minimises the financial impact of holding inventory pending test results.
4. Compliance with International Standards: Selecting a chromogenic solution that is validated in accordance with international standards such as ISO 16140-3:2021 ensures that laboratories can implement these methods with confidence, knowing they meet rigorous performance criteria.

Implementing Chromogenic Media Workflows
Adopting a new testing method requires careful planning and validation.

Laboratories must:
Define their verification objectives → Select appropriate parameters → Develop a detailed verification plan. This ensures that the chromogenic workflow meets the specific needs of the laboratory and complies with relevant regulatory guidelines.

With easy visual identification and streamlined workflows, chromogenic media is the key to efficient culture-based food testing. However, understanding how to select, evaluate and implement chromogenic media can be complex.

Download the free eBook, "Coloring the path to food safety excellence - a guide to chromogenic media for food microbiology testing" to dive deeper into the benefits, selection criteria and implementation steps for this testing approach.

Explore our Solutions
Thermo Fisher Scientific provides comprehensive support to laboratories transitioning to chromogenic media. This includes training personnel, offering validation resources, and providing ongoing technical assistance to ensure seamless implementation. For more information on chromogenic media and to download exclusive resources, visit thermofisher.com/precis.