— ADVERTORIAL —
NEMIS Technologies is preparing to enter the U.S. food safety industry with its innovative on-site testing technology aimed at reducing contamination risks in food production. The company has partnered with major brands in Europe, including Barilla, and in Africa with companies like Tiger Brands. They are focused on providing rapid, actionable results to help food manufacturers make immediate decisions and prevent large-scale recalls.
Bringing testing closer to production
Thomas Struckmeyer, Chief of Commercial Development at NEMIS, explained that their goal is to bring testing closer to where food is produced. “We are bringing the value back and the decision back to where it belongs, to take fast decisions on results that matter,” he said. “The faster you can take action, the better.”
Rapid on-site diagnostics for pathogens
NEMIS’s diagnostic technology enables food manufacturers to conduct pathogen tests, including for Salmonella and Listeria, directly on-site instead of waiting for results from a laboratory. Traditional lab-based testing can take several days to return results, but Struckmeyer emphasized that NEMIS’s tools provide rapid data, allowing companies to act quickly to prevent contamination from spreading.
“The earlier you know there might be an issue, the better off you are,” Struckmeyer said.
Focus on high-risk sectors
The company is initially focusing on high-risk sectors such as ready-to-eat foods and food preparation in supermarkets. Struckmeyer believes their solutions will be especially useful in environments like sushi restaurants and fresh produce processing facilities, where raw ingredients are exposed to potential contamination.
“We are targeting high-risk products, like fresh produce that is transferred into a final product,” Struckmeyer said. “This is where our first customer segment will be.”
Advancements in viability testing
NEMIS’s testing tools also employ viability testing, which Struckmeyer described as a significant advancement for food safety. Unlike some molecular-based tests that detect genetic material, NEMIS’s technology confirms the presence of live bacteria, allowing food producers to know whether a pathogen like Listeria is posing an active threat.
“With our technology, you detect live bacteria,” he said. “You will always find traces of bacteria here and there, but you still don’t know whether or not it’s alive. We provide that clarity.”
Entering the U.S. market
While NEMIS is just entering the U.S. market, Struckmeyer is confident about the company’s future in the industry. “We’re coming into the market as a new player, but we’re confident that our technology will quickly prove its value,” he said.
For more information on NEMIS Technologies and its food safety solutions, visit the company’s website.
Upcoming webinars and NEMIS Academy
To further engage with the U.S. market, NEMIS is offering a series of webinars through the NEMIS Academy. These sessions are designed to educate professionals in the food industry about the importance of environmental monitoring and the role of new technologies in preventing foodborne illnesses.
The upcoming webinars include:
- “Restoring Consumer Confidence in the Food Supply” – Featuring Brian Ronholm, former Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA. This session, on Oct. 10, 2024, will explore how improved food safety practices can rebuild trust in the food industry.
- “Old Age Pathogens: Finding New Homes” – Scheduled for Oct. 29, 2024, this session with John Donaghy will focus on the persistence of old-age pathogens in food environments and strategies to mitigate their spread.
- “Food Safety Culture” – Led by Frank Yiannas, former Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the FDA. This webinar, on Nov. 14, 2024, will delve into the critical role of fostering a strong food safety culture within organizations.
These webinars, along with other training resources available through NEMIS Academy, offer food safety professionals the opportunity to stay updated on the latest trends and tools in the industry.
Learn more about these webinars here.