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Seward Stomacher® 400 used for reindeer meat quality research

A seasonal (& patriotic!) Seward Stomacher® 400 paddle blender

For high res image, contact sarahp@alto-marketing.com

Worthing, UK – 12th December 2011. Seward, the manufacturer and developer of the patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range, today highlighted a seasonal application for this world leading sample preparation range concerning the assessment of reindeer meat quality1.  This is in addition to a broad array of familiar applications in preparing the best festive food samples for analysis and protecting the reputation of food processors, as well as consumer health. During the festive season, the company unsurprisingly sees a ramping up of activity in global customer demand as the food industry gears up for seasonal celebrations, from poultry processors and confectioners to fig and date packagers.

Less well known are the many applications of the Stomacher 400 Circulator machines in the food chain between producer and processor. Such an application carried out at the Swedish University of Agricultural Science Department of Food Hygiene1 looked at the impact of transportation times to slaughter on the quality of reindeer meat. The Stomacher was used to look at the impact on the growth of spoilage microorganisms within the carcasses of three different reindeer study groups.

The findings showed that a 1 log increase in bacterial count was detected in reindeer that had to travel the furthest in terms of transportation time prior to slaughter. This is linked to the biochemical changes induced by stress that change the pH of the meat prior to slaughter, allowing spoilage organisms to grow faster.

Related studies are currently underway in many parts of the world on the impact of stress on meat quality, one manifestation of which will be spoilage and shelf life. For example, the Lacombe Research Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ontario, Canada this year is investigating the development of an in-line procedure to detect stress in pigs arriving at the slaughterhouse. This will have an impact on the quality of meat produced and support a valuable industry.

The Stomacher 400 is widely used for the preparation of fully homogenised samples in meat testing. In real unspiked samples the machine ensures maximum recovery, even where there is surface adhesion, allowing the proper analysis of data.

For further information on Seward’s Stomacher® range and other sample preparation products, please visit: www.seward.co.uk.

Reference:

• Ultimate pH values and bacteriological condition of meat and stress metabolites in blood of transported reindeer bulls. E. Wiklund, C. Rehbinder, G. Malmfors, I. Hansson, M-L Danielsson-Tham. Rangifer 21 (1), 3-12, 2001

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About Seward Limited - www.seward.co.uk

Seward manufactures the world leading range of Stomacher® paddle blenders and Stomacher® accessories used in sample preparation for microbiological analyses. The company has been manufacturing and developing the world renown and patented Stomacher® Lab Blender for 40 years. The original and still regarded as the best, over 8 million food samples a day are prepared on Stomacher® 400 paddle blender units around the world.

In addition to sample preparation for food safety analyses, within the bioscience market the new developments of the Stomacher® 80 and micro 80 are proving invaluable for safe and efficient sample processing. The Stomacher® 3500 has established itself as the instrument of choice for preparing samples for the new pathogen test protocols requiring jumbo size samples.

The company is based in Worthing, West Sussex, UK with subsidiaries in Long Island, N.Y., USA and Singapore. All Seward machine products are manufactured within the UK and 1 of its 3 worldwide Stomacher® bag manufacturing operations is also UK-based. This ensures control of quality and price to deliver excellent value to global trading partners and laboratory customers.

Seward Limited continues to develop the product range, now with 3 patents to its credit. Stomacher® is the most highly referenced brand name in food safety and life science sample preparation in scientific publications. The company also assists customers with method development through reference searches and sample evaluations within its own development laboratory.

The original and still the best. The Stomacher® - a Seward product trade name.

Seward contact details:

Europe and ROW: +44 (0) 1903 823077; info@seward.co.uk

US & Canada: +1 631 750 5660; info@sewardusa.com

Asia, Pacific and Middle East: +65 67447811; info@sewardinternational.com

Meat samples prepared for rapid testing method comparison using
Stomacher 400 Circulator

The Seward Stomacher® 400 paddle blender

For high res image, contact sarahp@alto-marketing.com

Worthing, UK – 16th August 2011. Seward, the manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range, today highlights the recent use of the Stomacher® 400 Circulator, as part of a reference method, for the assessment of E.coli 0157 rapid testing protocols. In an extensive food safety study1 recently published in the E.U. by the Hygiene Unit of the Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, enzyme linked fluorescent assays (ELFA) and PCR were compared with the standard culture technique applying ISO 16654:2001 for E. coli 0157 detection in raw and cooked meat samples. The Stomacher 400 Circulator was used to prepare and homogenise samples in TSB with novobiocin for all testing protocols.

The study revealed that the new rapid methods are equivalent to the original direct culture technique. The team at the Rome-based facility concluded that the speed of testing of the rapid methods over the culturing techniques will be of great benefit to the public. Several days can be saved between sampling and detection, allowing a quick response to outbreaks.

The Stomacher 400 Circulator has a proven track record of excellent organism recovery from meat samples, with reduced sample debris ensuring minimal interference with subsequent sample processes. The quality of the sample is key to the performance of all rapid methods. It is for this reason that the Stomacher 400 Circulator is the most referenced laboratory blender in comparative studies between rapid microbiological detection methods and traditional reference techniques.

For further information on Seward’s Stomacher® range and other sample preparation products, please visit: www.seward.co.uk

Reference:

Detection of E. Coli 0157 in raw and cooked: comparison of conventional direct culture method and enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA). Maria De Giusti, Daniela Tufi, Caterina Aurigemma, Angela Del Cimmuto, Federica Trinti, Alice Mannocci, Antonio Boccia. Hygiene Unit, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome. Italian Journal of Public Health (2011), Vol 8, Number 1.

Seward Stomacher® 3500 ideal for large volume sample prep

The Stomacher® 3500 for processing large microbiological sample volumes

For high res image, contact sarahp@alto-marketing.com

Worthing, UK – June 2011. Seward Limited, manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range, announces a highly successful year for sales of its Stomacher® 3500 large volume sample preparation systems. This follows recent changes to USDA Escherichia coli 0157:H7 testing protocols, where an expanded description of how its Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) confirms and reports on this virulent food pathogen was published.

All meat products consumed (whether locally produced or exported) within the US must have undergone the recently renewed FSIS E.coli 0157:H7 testing protocols. Within these, the volume of sample and diluents has been increased to 125 g of food sample in 1.25 L broth to maximise the opportunity for pathogen detection. Detailed within the revised Laboratory Guidebook chapter on ‘Detection, Isolation and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Meat Products’, a Stomacher 3500 is used for the sample preparation of varying quantities and types of meat sample.

The Stomacher 3500 range, including Stomacher bags, is available specifically for large volume (400 ml to 3.5 L) blending and extraction, where all the washing solution or solvent is required to be retained for microbiological analysis.

“The Stomacher 3500 is unrivalled in the market of large volume sample blending and extraction, making it ideal for routine sample preparation of a variety of products for microbiological testing,” said Stuart Ray, Technical Director, Seward. “This is due to its quality, robust components which make it extremely durable, even when processing the largest and toughest of samples. In fact we have examples of these large systems still going strong after 20 years of hard service in many industrial settings!”

For further information on Seward’s Stomacher® 3500 and other sample preparation products, please visit: www.seward.co.uk

Reference 1: Detection, Isolation and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from Meat Products. USDA, FSIS Laboratory Guidebook, Chapter MLG 5.04. Revision 1/28/2008.

Much to the delight of the rest of the Seward team, Chris Dunk and Andrea Gyurakovits have finally decided to get married in style – by having the ceremony in a helicopter while hovering over Niagra Falls!!

Many of you will know Chris and Andrea from their years at our Head Office in Worthing UK, where Chris headed operations and Andrea provided customer sales and support.

The dynamic duo have had a very busy year setting up our North American office in Bohemia, New York, they have finally taken some time out (albeit one weekend!) to make honest people out of each other!

The Seward team would like to congratulate Chris and Andrea on this wonderful occasion and wish them every happiness for their future.

Seward’s Strainer bag simplifies tissue

digestion and processing

Seward Limited, manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range, has further enhanced the application range of its Strainer bags to include sterile processing of tissue samples for primary cell preparation. Gamma irradiated sterile and available in a range of sizes, the Strainer bags are fully compatible with all laboratory paddle blenders. As the Strainer bags are effectively small, fully containable units which are easily used in a sterile environment, this has enabled new applications in cell culture.

The 0.5 mm pore size of the integrated, robust strainer element within the Seward Strainer bag generates a uniformly homogenous cell suspension. This allows the cells’ passage through the pores of the central straining matrix and prevents contamination with undigested extracellular material which can block pipettes. Produced to provide a sterile, secure environment for the preparation of single cell suspensions, the Strainer bag is ideal for the individual processing of a large number of samples.

The Strainer bags are an adaptable and useful technology which can increase the efficiency of the preparation of primary cells from digested tissues. “The new life-science applications of our robust Strainer bag technology represent the continuing, customer oriented, development to which Seward is committed,” said Stuart Ray, Technical Director, Seward Ltd. “Cell scientists can simplify their primary culture preparations by straining the processed tissues to ensure trouble-free pipetting, whilst also increasing the viability of the cells produced as the end product.”

Regional Increase in Sales Drives Global Expansion to Provide for Customer Needs

Seward Ltd, manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Laboratory Paddle Blender range for over 40 years, has opened a regional support hub in Singapore.  This new facility, headed by Daniel Crothers (formerly of Seward Ltd, UK), is dedicated to providing the highest quality sales, technical and distribution support to all Seward customers in Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East. 

By establishing this new office and warehousing facility in response to feedback from its customer base, Seward is now able to rapidly supply products, regional sales and technical support, without time-zone delay.  Seward recognises that a localised support network will ensure the highest quality service for the expanding global market for its Stomacher paddle blender range and associated products.

The Singapore facility has been established to help minimise costs and delivery times for customers, with the majority of stock available from Seward’s own warehouse facilities in Singapore.  A regional storage and distribution service allows Seward to reduce the landed costs of its products and make them readily available to its customers in the area.  The Asia, Pacific and Middle Eastern markets for Seward’s Stomacher® product range are continuing to evolve, with particular emphasis on technology for assessing food safety and freshness, not only for export, but also domestic markets.

Set-up of the Singapore facility began in January 2011. Development was expedited for opening in mid-February 2011, in order to smooth the transition in supplying products and services to Seward customers.  To date, customer feedback on the service offered by the Singapore office has been overwhelmingly positive; with many distributors already taking supplies from this new regional hub.

“The Singapore facility represents Seward’s continuing development and dedication to customer service and product excellence,” said Daniel Crothers, Managing Director Singapore, Seward International Pte Ltd. “We have seen unprecedented growth in demand from the Asia/Pacific and Middle East regions.  Our new supply and support hub is perfectly situated to provide for the sales and technical needs of our customers in these areas.”

Andrea Dunk successfully completed her first 26 mile marathon on November 7th 2010!

She was able to raise her target figure of over $3,000 in aid of NYRR Youth Programs and would like to thank everyone that contributed! If you wish to find out more, please visit www.nyrrf.org

Seward attended the last exhibition of the year in Calirfornia earlier this month, and would like to say a big thank you to both existing and new customers that dropped by our stand!

Stuart Ray, Seward's Technical Director, even met Francis Busta (pictured left) a pioneer in Food Microbiology who was the second person ever to buy a Stomacher in the US!

Please contact us if you did not get the chance to stop by our stand, or have any questions from the event!

An inexpensive alternative to the

graduated pipette

Worthing, UK – 8th June 2010. Seward Limited, manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range for over 40 years, is offering users exceptional value for money with their new universal fit Simplette Straws. Designed for use with fixed or variable-volume pipette handsets and costing less than £0.01 each, Simplette Straws provide an inexpensive alternative to graduated pipettes for sample handling applications.

With their increased wall thickness and extended length, Simplette Straws offer further benefits when compared to standard pipette tips. The Simplette Straw has been designed specifically to reach the bottom of all Stomacher® bags. This means that an homogenised sample can be readily recovered for microbiological inoculations without risk of cross contamination via the pipette handsets, since they have no contact with the bag.

Packaged irradiated sterile and available in two lengths, 170mm and 250mm, the Simplette Straw delivers quality at a fraction of the cost of traditional graduated pipettes. Stuart Ray, Technical Director, Seward Ltd. commented, “For too long pipette users have been paying too much for traditional graduated pipettes. Our new universal fit Simplette Straws prove there is no need. Offering quality, value and peace of mind over cross contamination issues, they really are a practical alternative for simple sample handling purposes.”

For free samples of Seward’s new Simplette Straws and further information, contact us