The Role of Medallion Labs in Getting Food Into the Supply Chain

Rarely in modern history have questions about the food supply chain entered into the thoughts of so many people. Yes, there have been products pulled from shelves for safety and compliance reasons or runs on bottled water and other essential supplies during a national disaster, but nothing quite like we are experiencing in 2020.

As the world confronts a global pandemic, consumers, retailers, and food producers alike all share concerns about food availability, and safety. As food producers seek to meet the strong and shifting demands of consumers and quell potential concerns, it’s vitally important that they also take all precautionary steps to ensure any food that is shipped is safe and compliant. The last thing the marketplace needs right now is a non-COVID-19 related issue such as an E. coli outbreak or an allergen recall to disrupt the nation’s food supply.

At Medallion Labs, we do everything possible to provide scientifically accurate and valid food testing that can be relied upon even in the most concerning of times. We also take the utmost care and follow best practices to ensure the safety of our staff and continuity of our testing business.

We offer several tests to support the safety of the food supply chain. The most common food safety tests being run at Medallion right now are:

• Allergens
• Multi-Residue Analysis
• Microbiology
• Metals

We strongly encourage food producers and food professionals to be extra vigilant with their standards and use of testing. We also suggest taking a moment to consider and better understand these tests and their role in maintaining food supply chain safety.

Gluten/Gliadin Allergens Testing for Food Supply Chain Safety

It’s nearly impossible to identify how many people are gluten sensitive. Estimates range up to 7% depending on the source. What we do know is that this health condition impacts millions of consumers. We also know that Celiac disease affects about 1% of the U.S. population. Further, it is anticipated that the gluten-free market is expected to grow to $18 billion by 2025 as consumers seek gluten-free foods either for medical reasons or lifestyle choices.

This makes the need for accurate gluten/gliadin allergen testing important today, and even more so in the near future. But what exactly is gluten/gliadin allergen testing?

Gluten is the common name given to water-insoluble proteins (gliadin and glutenin). These come from the seeds of rye, wheat, and barley. These can cause issues such as bowel irritability, anemia, arthralgia, fatigue, dermatitis, and even neurological disorders in some people. Which is why it becomes critical to avoid these proteins for those with intolerances.

Multi-Residue Analysis Testing for Food Supply Chain Safety

Whatever pesticides you use or may be of safety and/or regulatory concern Medallion Labs has Multi-Residue Analysis Testing options available to ensure your food products meet safety standards and avoid disrupting the food supply chain.

Pesticides are commonly used by fruit and vegetable producers in the United States and abroad. The use of pesticides is absolutely safe, providing it meets the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pesticide Registration & Evaluation process. If a pesticide exceeds these standards, it could result in a wide array of regulatory compliance and health issues for users.

To ensure food products comply with standards, Medallion Labs offers multi-residue analysis testing for pesticides. Our testing options include:

• Pesticide multi-residue analysis (MRA) basic screen
• Pesticide multi-residue analysis (MRA) expanded screen
• Pesticide multi-residue analysis (MRA) organic screen

Medallion Labs also offers additional types of multi-residue analysis testing, such as Glyphosate testing.

Microbiology Testing for Food Supply Chain Safety

Microbiology testing protects the food supply chain from threats that are invisible to the eye. These can include pathogens, spoilage microorganisms, yogurt cultures, probiotics, and more.

To fully assist food procedures in regards to microbiology, Medallion Labs assists food companies design and run microbiological challenge studies to implement their food safety/quality plan. Our full range of Microbiology tests is shown below.

• Aerobic Plate Count
• Anaerobic Plate Count
• Bacillus cereus
• Coliforms
• E.coli
• Enterobacteriaceae
• Lactic Acid Bacteria
• Listeria genus
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Mold
• Salmonella
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Yeast

Metals Testing for Food Supply Chain Safety

Like pesticides, the occurrence of metals in a food product is not necessarily dangerous. In many cases, these metals occur naturally. In some situations, metals are added to boost nutritional aspects or for other positive reasons. But like pesticides, the amount and type of metals and heavy metals must comply with food safety standards. The guidelines for metals and heavy metals are set by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

At Medallion Labs, we protect the food supply chain by helping food producers analyze metals and heavy metals in their food products. In doing so, we offer a range of testing options to match their budget to their testing needs.

In our Metals Screen I Test, we account for:

• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Sodium

In our Metals Screen II Test, we account for:

• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Zinc

In our Heavy Metals Package Test, we account for:

• Arsenic
• Cadmium
• Lead
• Mercury

Food Testing Maintains the Safety of the Food Supply Chain

For reasons of safety and accuracy, food testing plays an integral role in the food supply chain process. Going from ingredient to product to store shelf and ultimately, a consumer’s plate puts a lot of responsibility on food manufacturers. Testing provides the quantified evidence that it will be safe, usable, and reliable. Medallion Labs offers many testing options to meet mandates, guidelines, and regulations. We also provide food manufacturers with the actionable data they need to evaluate their products in development, ongoing manufacturing, or future enhancements. Connect with us and let’s identify tests that can bring value and consistency to your food products.