Improving Food Safety

Food safety is important for everyone, and the global nature of our current food supply chain can increase the potential risks associated with contaminants in food for humans or animals. It is important to be aware of common contaminants and where they come from and to have robust methods for monitoring to ensure the safety of our food and drink.

Although there are many ways our food can become contaminated, some contaminants are more harmful and more prevalent than others. Antibiotics and mycotoxins are two top culprits that can affect a wide range of common foods.

Antibiotics

Where do antibiotics in our food come from? In agriculture, antibiotics are often used in animal husbandry to promote growth and prevent diseases. However, residues of these antibiotics can find their way into the food we consume, primarily through meat, milk, and other animal-derived products. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics in agriculture contribute to the emergence and increased prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, posing a severe threat to public health. Food safety standards play a pivotal role in ensuring that antibiotic residues remain within acceptable limits, safeguarding consumers from the potential risks associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Mycotoxins

Any what about mycotoxins? Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by molds, namely Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. These molds thrive in specific climatic conditions and contaminate a range of food products, including grains, nuts, and spices. Once ingested, mycotoxins can cause a spectrum of health issues, from acute poisoning to chronic diseases. Mycotoxin contamination is not always evident through sight or taste, making it a particularly insidious threat. As with antibiotics, rigorous food safety testing, employing methodologies like ELISA kits, are essential to identifying and quantifying mycotoxins in food before they enter the food supply or are consumed.

What can we do?

Food safety testing, using assay technology such as ELISA kits, can help defend against these contaminants. ELISA kits, designed with precision and specificity, enable the detection and quantification of antibiotics and mycotoxins in various food samples, even at low levels. By providing accurate results even at trace levels, ELISA kits empower regulatory bodies, food producers, and researchers to enforce standards, mitigate risks, and maintain the integrity of the food supply chain.

Reddot Biotech has a wide range of Food Safety ELISA kits for mycotoxins, antibiotics, and other targets including Ampicillin, Dexamethasone, Benzylpenicillin, and more.

View the full catalogue of Food Safety ELISA kits. 

Contact us with any questions.