The Pros and Cons of Zone Approach to Testing

Companies required to conduct environmental monitoring for verification of pathogen control must make a reasoned decision on whether to test direct-product-contact surfaces (zone 1) for indicators alone, pathogens alone, or both combined. Many experts advise never testing zone 1 surfaces for pathogens due to recall risk if such surfaces are found contaminated with a pathogen. However, such advice – ignoring your greatest risk surfaces for your greatest food safety risk – seems logically flawed.

In this webinar, co-hosted by Eurofins and SafetyChain, food safety researcher Douglas Marshall, PhD, CFS (Chief Scientific Officer with Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc.) will discuss an approach to zone 1 testing that recommends testing non-direct-contact surfaces simultaneously for pathogens and indicators, then building a correlation between quantitative indicator count and Salmonella or Listeria prevalence. Dr. Marshall will share insights on how companies are employing this approach, including:

• Exploration of the various philosophical and scientific rationales for zone 1 pathogen testing
• How to justify your zone 1 pathogen testing program to inspectors, auditors, and customers
• Examples of where ignoring zone 1 pathogen testing led to a deadly outcome