Protein Problem Solver: Dietz & Watson cuts pathogen testing time by more than 80 percent
Dietz & Watson is a household name in deli meats, with more than 400 products in supermarkets and delis throughout the United States. For more than 75 years, Dietz & Watson has been a family-owned and -operated business with a focus on providing the highest quality deli meats and artisan cheeses. Committed to providing products that are “good and good for you,” the Dietz & Watson food-safety and quality-control initiative is a critical component.
Problem: Testing and removal of environmental Listeriais a critical component in ensuring the safety of ready-to-eat meats. Previously, Dietz & Watson was dependent on a third-party lab for environmental pathogen testing. Traditional testing measures demanded lengthy enrichment cycles, as well as complex processing that could not be safely and reliably completed in the plant. The delay in results meant that in the event of a positive test result, a few days and a few cleaning cycles had gone by before the company had results.