Campden BRI is looking for partners to help with a new study assessing Covid-caused hygiene practices for safer food production.

The aim of the project is to help food businesses and manufacturers develop more efficient procedures. Campden BRI claimed that the research could save participating manufacturers significant cost and time as it will reveal which cleaning interventions have been the most successful.

The researchers will analyse the microbiological data – submitted confidentially by participating businesses – and compare it with survey responses to identify any patterns or correlations that could “help build more efficient and targeted hygiene procedures.”

Specifically, the research will look at two sets of microbiological data – namely Listeria and total viable counts (TVCs) – and will draw conclusions from this data. For example, comparing data generated pre- and post-pandemic from a number of factories might reveal a particular cleaning method that is effective against a food pathogen such as Listeria monocytogenes.

Dr Greg Jones, senior microbiologist at Campden BRI who is leading the project, said: “For the first time, we can use the factory swab data generated from hundreds of different food factories to compare the impact of different hygiene approaches on factory microflora. We could draw countless conclusions from this data, but what we’re most excited about identifying is the effectiveness of specific approaches on specific food pathogens.”

The research will begin in October and initially run for a year. Participating businesses from across the food and drink sector will be required to provide their microbiological factory swab data – which will be kept confidential – and complete a short survey.

Any companies wanting to take part in the research should call Greg Jones on 01386 842143 or email him at greg.jones@campdenbri.co.uk.