Insights Unveiled: Four experts share perspectives on food safety innovation and the road ahead
July 17, 2024

We sat down with four of Neogen’s® Petrifilm® experts to reflect on 40 years of customer collaboration, product innovation, and business transformation – and to look ahead to how Neogen is poised to remain at the forefront of innovation in the food safety industry as we move into the future.
Here’s what they had to say.
Mario De la Torre, Global Portfolio Marketer
...On collaborating with customers and changing the game for the industry
There’s no question that the launch of Petrifilm Plates in 1984 was viewed as a major step forward for indicator testing technology. It was a game-changer in the industry. In contrast to the traditional agar method, Petrifilm Plates are easy to use and deliver fast, reliable results with accurate and consistent performance.
Beyond the initial appeal of enhanced accuracy and consistency, our customers quickly recognized the operational efficiencies that accompanied the adoption of Petrifilm Plates. For 40 years, we have been dedicated to assisting our customers in improving lab efficiencies while upholding the highest standards of product quality and safety. That’s always been our primary focus: our customers.
Our team of technicians and commercial experts continues to maintain a close rapport with our customers, immersing themselves in the details of daily lab operations. Through hands-on engagement, we observe, learn, and inquire thoughtfully to identify key pain points. This collaborative process involves numerous visits, enabling us to gather information and discern whether an issue is specific to a particular lab or a widespread concern across various labs.
Our commitment extends beyond addressing immediate concerns to continually enhancing and upgrading our product portfolios in collaboration with end users. We actively seek feedback from our customers and work toward expanding our portfolio by introducing new products and technologies. This collective effort is a testament to our unwavering commitment, requiring months and years of dedicated teamwork.
We extend our profound appreciation to our customers for placing their trust in us over four decades, and for fostering enduring support and collaborative partnerships. We are dedicated to continued collaboration and innovation in the journey ahead.
Alec Teagarden, Field Application Scientist
...On key innovations that continue to address customer needs
We are always in the process of developing innovative products to enhance our portfolio and cater to our customers’ evolving food safety testing needs. We’re a team of scientists who are always looking for better, more innovative ways to get things done.
A prime example of our commitment to this is the introduction of our Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced in 2021.
In a traditional lab, counting individual colonies on each Petrifilm Plate is a manual process, which can be especially daunting for labs handling thousands of plates daily. If there are a significant number of colonies, it could take a minute or more per plate – that adds up quickly. With the Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced, you get results in six seconds or less.
But it’s not just about speed; it’s about efficiency. With the manual approach, technicians have to jot down results in an Excel spreadsheet or their lab’s information management system, and then review the data later. The Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced revolutionizes this by allowing you to affix a barcode to the plate and then simply insert the plate into the device, and it does the work for you. It captures an image of the barcode, extracts the information, and seamlessly stores it in the software, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of human error.
This product offers a game-changing combination: elimination of technician errors, enhanced traceability through stored information linked to specific plate images, and a drastic reduction in the time required to count plates.
As we look to the future, there’s an evident and growing shift – particularly among commercial and contract labs – toward the necessity of automation in sample preparation and result collection. This trend is gaining even more significance, especially in the aftermath of COVID, where labor shortages have persisted, particularly in the food production industry.
In addition, the demand for consistency in data collection is on the rise. Whether it’s food testing, environmental testing, or chemical testing, there’s a clear need for a unified system where all data seamlessly flows. The idea of a one-stop shop for comprehensive data management is becoming increasingly crucial in ensuring streamlined and efficient processes.
We continue to focus on leveraging science to address the needs of customers that are currently unmet or could be better served. We are committed to filling these gaps and providing innovative solutions that enhance the overall customer experience.
Annie Simmons, Field Application Scientist
…On emerging trends and challenges
As we transition into this new age under the microscope lens of social media and documentaries, now more than ever there is a spotlight on manufactured products, especially food. End consumers are demanding to know what is in the food they are eating; from how it’s grown or raised to how it’s processed and produced. The quality and safety of foods are no longer expected, it’s assumed. In addition, regulatory requirements are becoming more stringent. Food processors are not only being audited by industry regulators, but they are also audited by their retailer customers to qualify as an approved supplier and are often required to fill out a CoA displaying test results specified by each retailer. This is all while having to pass their own internal testing and product specifications to maintain their own established quality and safety standards.
With surprise audits and testing requirements coming in all directions, food processors need total confidence in test methods and solutions that offer a broad portfolio to satisfy all testing requirements.
This is why Neogen Petrifilm continues to be the leading dry film quality indicator test on the market and has been for the past four decades. Petrifilm is internationally recognized and used in more than 60 countries with over 105 global validations, recognitions, and certifications. It has been proven to perform again and again with almost any food matrix we throw on it and lab environment we test it in. Neogen continues to invest in adding to the scope of our third-party validations to demonstrate that Petrifilm can be used universally and is statistically equivalent to the industry standards.
Petrifilm, in my opinion, has become the currency method for indicator testing. It allows for the seamless communication of quality test results to be relayed from the farmers to the processors to the retailer, reducing interruptions or delays even on an international level with importing and exporting. The last thing food processors have time to do is to put products on hold to investigate discrepancies in results caused by a method that is not reliable, accredited, or accurate.
Additionally, the Petrifilm portfolio offers 16 different plate types and counting. I receive so many calls from food processors asking, “Do you have a Petrifilm for this?” or “Can I use Petrifilm for that?” They desire all testing to be in the form of a Petrifilm, because just as their customers assume they are getting safe, high-quality foods, our customers assume that Petrifilm will be easy to use, accurate and reliable.
Dr. Sailaja Chandrapati, Senior Scientist and Director of Intellectual Property Strategy
...On continuing to help move the industry forward
We are always working hard to stay ahead of the curve by continually investing in new products and technologies, all while attentively listening to our customers and staying attuned to market trends. Our mission in the realm of microbiology remains clear – to make the entire process, from sampling to receiving results, as seamless and painless for our customers as possible.
Our approach is deeply rooted in understanding the pain points our customers face. Armed with scientific expertise, we’ve made it our goal is to refine and simplify their processes, making it a smoother journey for them. This involves a strategic investment in talent and strengthening Petrifilm’s portfolio over time. We focus not only on the present but also on building the infrastructure and nurturing talent for the future of the brand.
Speaking of talent, it’s our people who set the Petrifilm brand apart. We have an exceptional team well-versed in the intricacies of science, including microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, material science, and process engineering. Our team possesses a profound understanding of the nuanced aspects of these processes, empathizing with the challenges that can be burdensome for technicians.
A notable shift we’re navigating as an industry is the increasing influence of social media on customer awareness, especially when it comes to brands facing adverse events. Unlike the past, where such information might take time to surface, today, it’s instantaneous. This heightened awareness has made the food industry acutely conscious of the profound impact these adverse events can have on brands, which intensifies the importance of food safety and quality.
Tools like Petrifilm play a pivotal role in offering assurance to brands. Reliable methods developed through rigorous testing provide a safety net.
Our scientific approach to food safety doesn’t happen in a silo; it’s a collaborative effort that stems from the needs and pain points of the industry. It begins with strong relationships with food industry partners and active participation in collaborative organizations like IAFP, AOAC, AFNOR, and Microval. These partnerships ensure that our development is driven by the genuine needs of the food industry.
Our customers’ needs steer our development, and our collaborative approach – which is embedded into the Petrifilm brand’s DNA – is what will keep us at the forefront of innovation for years to come. As we continue to prioritize our customers’ needs and uphold our collaborative ethos, we are poised to pioneer groundbreaking solutions that will shape the landscape of innovation in the years ahead.
Category: Food Safety, Consumer Goods, Dietary Supplements, Food & Beverage, Pet Food, Microbiology, Pathogens, Environmental Monitoring