Gem Scientific | Blog

27/01/2021
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The Importance of Effective Surface Cleaning & Disinfection

Surface cleaning and disinfection is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of infection. Various studies have shown that contaminated surfaces are an established route of transmission for high-risk pathogens, including those with pandemic potential, such as coronaviruses.1 The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced why it is so important to practice good hygiene and ensure surfaces, particularly those that are classed as ‘high-risk’, are cleaned and disinfected frequently. There is emerging evidence that contaminated surfaces play a role in the transmission of the SARS- CoV-2 virus that causes... Read More

25/01/2021
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Remote Legionella Testing with Hydrosense

Hydrosense Pro is a safe, customisable mobile-based reader and storage system which reads Hydrosense Legionella tests accurately and allows water management companies and their clients to store and share test results securely and seamlessly. The app and accompanying portal are used in water management and FM to facilitate crucial Legionella testing remotely during the lockdown. With further closures, water management professionals are finding it harder and harder to gain site access, and their employers are increasingly concerned about their safety when they can able to take samples in person. With... Read More

06/01/2021
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Expand Your Beer Analysis with Beercraft Software and Genesys Uv-Vis Spectrophotometers

All breweries take pride in the quality of their beer, and a key component to that is through analytical testing. To ensure batch-to-batch consistency, it is essential to maintain your beer’s identity and the success of your brand. Thermo Scientific™ GENESYS™ UV-Vis Spectrophotometer with BeerCraft™ Software is a powerful tool and valuable addition to your breweries QA/QC laboratory. It allows you to add in-process testing of wort, yeast, malt and hops to ensure the perfect batch, every time. Why use BeerCraft Software? BeerCraft software has been developed to include 20... Read More

HACCP Checks: Save Over £600 a Year using an ETI Data Logger 15/12/2020
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HACCP Checks: Save Over £600 Per Year using an ETI Data Logger

Data loggers automate the temperature-taking process, allowing them to be taken at programmed intervals while digitally backing up the results. This eliminates the need for an employee to physically take and write down the temperature meaning time can be freed and money saved, which can be a vital long-term investment for your business. This post will examine how using an ETI data logger saves time and money to create a less stressful HACCP plan and more efficient business. How data loggers save time Without loggers, members of staff must interrupt... Read More

08/12/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: Allergen Management

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. Allergen management takes place at multiple points in production, starting with a raw material assessment, then production line and personnel cross contamination then through to end-product testing. BRCGS 5.3 concerns allergen management and the systems in place to manage the allergenic materials and minimise the risk of contamination, with clause 5.3.8 specifically addressing allergen cleaning regimes. As legislation requires that the presence of food allergens to be clearly labelled on the... Read More

30/11/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: Microorganism Indicator and Spoilage Organism Testing

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. By taking a proactive approach to microorganism testing companies can mitigate problems before they arise. BRCGS clause 4.11.8 identifies requirements for incorporating testing into an environmental monitoring program allows for continual assessment of cleaning protocols at a microbial level. Effective programs can be used to prevent contamination by acting as an early warning before they affect products. Sampling and testing will differ from site to site depending on the risks assessed... Read More

24/11/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: ATP Hygiene Monitoring and Verification

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. Residue from production which remains on a surface after poor cleaning can encourage microorganism growth which leads to spoilage, risk of food poisoning and shelf life reduction. ATP monitoring is ideal for use and an early risk indicator for inadequate removal of organic residue. As an established method of testing hygiene, it is used widely as a verification method for hygiene cleaning, but it cannot be used as a replacement for... Read More

17/11/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: Hygiene and Housekeeping

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. When looking to set your limits of acceptable and unacceptable cleaning performance, BRCGS Clause 4.11.3 defines a number of ways to do this. Once test points are established, area risks are assessed primarily on whether it needs to be a clean processing environment (where a ‘visually clean’ may be sufficient) or a sterile food contact surface (where all traces of allergen or other cross contaminants must be removed). Further environmental monitoring... Read More