Purpose: This study evaluated the performance of 3M™ Petrifilm™ Salmonella Express (SALX) System (an all-in-one method providing qualitative detection and biochemical confirmation) for the detection of Salmonella in a variety of beverages from Thailand as compared to the standard cultural method ISO 6579:2002 /Amd. 1:2007.
Methods: Products (n = 134) were purchased as manufacture-sealed packaging at retail counters, markets, and street vendors. Matrices included carbonates, fruit/vegetable juices, functional beverages, concentrates, powdered and ready-to-drink tea & coffee. Thirty-three of these samples were artificially inoculated with one of three different Salmonella spp. (S. Typhimurium, S. Rissen and S. Stanley) and the remaining samples were tested uninoculated. Approximately 100 ml or 100 g of each sample was first homogenized and then analyzed following two methods; 3M™ Petrifilm™ SALX and ISO 6579:2002 /Amd. 1:2007.
Results: The 3M™ Petrifilm™ SALX showed comparable detection results to those obtained from the ISO method. The sensitivity of the 3M™ Petrifilm™ SALX was 100% (95% CI : 95.4-100 %), specificity was 100.0% (95% CI : 95.4-100 %), accuracy was 100.0% and no significant difference from the reference method using the chi-square statistic.
Significance: Rapid detection and monitoring of Salmonella in beverage products can help to improve beverage safety and quality in domestic and international markets. The 3M™ Petrifilm™ Salmonella Express System is a new all-in-one detection method that can facilitate high-throughput sample screening for Salmonella to obtain fast and reliable results.