Food poisoning tests developed

13 May 1999

Food poisoning tests developed

GOVERNMENT scientists have developed a type of virus which can be used to test for food poisoning agents such as E coli and Salmonella.

The viruses, which are called bacteriophages, were developed the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods Central Science laboratory in York
.

Using them means bacteria can be detected in food samples very quickly – just eight hours against the three days it can take with conventional techniques.

The process was developed in collaboration with scientists from the Defence Evaluation and Research agency laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire.

• The Herald 13/05/99 page 3