Leatherhead Food Research announced the opening of its Pathogen Pilot Plant, also known as DirtyLab, for pathogen challenge testing on conventional and new food products.
The new facility has category II containment capabilities that allow Leatherhead to deliberately contaminate both conventional and new food products with pathogens in order to investigate the fate of such micro-organisms under selected processing conditions. The lab will validate the effectiveness of methods, processes and equipment against known microorganisms through facility projects. These may include complex food processes, validation of cleaning and disinfecting processes for specific equipment, food production and storage, and the verification of other processing methods.
“DirtyLab aims to support and expand our existing capabilities for challenge testing by providing an environment that directly replicates a food production area, but without introducing risks to the commercial production of food. It is an excellent facility for members and clients to further ensure the safety of their products," said Dr. Wayne Morley, Head of Food Safety, Leatherhead Food Research.
Several confidential projects have already reaped the benefits of Leatherhead’s DirtyLab. Current projects within the facility include a member-funded forum project on pathogens in low-moisture foods, research to systematically establish the heat resistance and survival of pathogens in dry foods, and an evaluation of Salmonella survival in paprika. Leatherhead’s next study will look into the survival of Salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii in dry infant formula.
