Manufacturers urged to tighten protocols as SGS expands global cereulide testing

In a move that signals a shift in how the industry must approach “invisible” food safety threats, SGS has announced an expansion of its cereulide testing capacities.

This development comes as food and drink manufacturers face mounting pressure to modernise safety protocols following high-profile recalls in the infant formula sector that have shaken consumer trust.

The global food industry is currently grappling with a risk landscape that has evolved beyond the reach of standard microbial checks.

Unlike live bacteria, cereulide — a potent toxin produced by certain strains of the Bacillus cereus group — is notorious for its extreme resilience.

For quality assurance teams, this toxin presents a unique challenge because it remains active even after rigorous heat treatment, significant pH fluctuations, and typical food processing methods that would otherwise sterilise a product. Because the toxin persists even when the parent bacteria have been neutralised, routine microbiological tests often provide a false sense of security.

To address these vulnerabilities, SGS is deploying advanced methodologies that go beyond simple colony counts to provide a more comprehensive safety net.

The expanded service suite includes molecular screening for the ‘ces gene’, which identifies the genetic building blocks of the toxin before it can compromise a batch. Furthermore, the company has aligned its analytical strategies with the ISO 18465 and ISO 7932 standards, ensuring that manufacturers can meet the highest levels of global regulatory compliance.

These services are particularly critical for high-risk categories such as dairy, starchy foods, and infant nutrition, where the margin for error is non-existent.

SGS emphasises that recent market incidents highlight the critical need for independent, robust testing for sensitive consumer products.

By integrating these advanced methodologies into their existing food safety management systems, manufacturers can more effectively identify risks at the genetic level and utilise precise detection to insulate their supply chains from the reputational and financial damage of emerging biological threats.

This enhanced risk management toolkit is designed to help businesses navigate an environment of increasing scrutiny and ensure the highest standards of food safety.