Free Technical Webinar 

Are you doing enough to safeguard your food products from hidden hazards and contamination risks? Ensuring food safety demands a strong, integrated approach that incorporates both effective HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) and sanitation control programs. HACCP focuses on systematically identifying, assessing, and managing potential hazards throughout food production, while sanitation programs uphold hygiene standards to prevent contamination. When implemented together, these systems minimize food safety risks, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and protect consumer health by maintaining consistent control over critical processes, and proper hygiene and sanitation throughout the supply chain.

In this FREE technical webinar, industry experts will guide you through best practices, regulatory expectations, and real-world applications of HACCP principles and sanitation strategies. Learn how to design, implement, and monitor complex food safety systems that minimizes risks, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure product integrity from production to consumption.

WEBINAR DETAILS

 HACCP Implementation in the Food Industry Speaker

 Ms. Welma Manrique is an expert in food safety and quality management, holding certifications as a Lead Auditor for BRCGS Food Issue 9 and FSSC 22000. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology from Bicol University in the Philippines. Ms. Welma has extensive knowledge of various international standards, including ISO 22000, HACCP, and sustainability practices like TACCP/VACCP. She is experienced in improving systems, managing risks, and ensuring the continuous quality and safety of food products. She believes that strong product quality speaks for itself and that continuous training and the right skills are key to long-term success in any organization.

Trends and Updates for Hygiene and Sanitation Monitoring Speaker

Ms. Alissa Shida is a Microbiology Specialist and Forensic Science Expert with a Master's degree in Forensic Science and a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology. Currently serving as the Regional Manager at Kikkoman Biochemifa Company, she and her team provide advanced hygiene testing solutions to various industries, ensuring compliance with safety standards. With a focus on microbiological analysis and contaminant detection, Ms. Alissa is committed to staying at the forefront of the field, delivering innovative solutions, and maintaining high industry standards.

Don't miss out on this excellent learning opportunity! Whether enhancing your existing programs or developing a new one, this session will equip you with key insights and practical tools to elevate your food safety performance. The electronic copy of the certificates will be issued to attendees 2-3 weeks after the webinar. For any questions or clarifications, send an email to gabriellellamas@glenwood.ph

IAFP European Symposium 2025 – Technical Session 9

T9: Evaluation of Easy Plate YM-R™ for Enumerating Yeasts and Molds in Both High and Low Water Activity Foods

Introduction

Kikkoman Biochemifa Company will be presenting new validation data for Easy Plate YM-R™, a ready-to-use (RTU) culture medium developed for the rapid enumeration of yeasts and molds. The product enables results in 48 to 72 hours and is suitable for both high and low water activity foods. This presentation will take place as part of Technical Session 9 (T9) at the IAFP European Symposium 2025.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of Easy Plate YM-R™ in alignment with AOAC Performance Tested Methods℠, MicroVal, and NordVal certification requirements, with particular focus on applied statistical methods for method validation.

Study Overview

Methodology:

Easy Plate YM-R™ was compared against ISO 21527-1/2 (2008) and BAM Chapter 18 (2001). Validation was conducted across diverse product categories including:

• Dairy
• Fruits and produce
• Multicomponent foods
• Bakery items
• Meat and poultry
• Dried foods
• Confectionery
• Pet foods
• Environmental swabs

Parameters assessed include:

• Relative trueness: 135 items using Bland-Altman plots
• Repeatability and accuracy: β-ETIs and confidence intervals (19 items)
• Selectivity: 50 inclusivity strains, 30 exclusivity strains Robustness, consistency, and stability: via ANOVA

Key Findings

• At 48 hours, Easy Plate YM-R™ demonstrated agreement with reference methods in three categories: produce, multicomponent foods, and environmental samples
• At 72 hours, consistent agreement was achieved across all tested food types, within ±0.5 log or recalculated acceptance limits
• Selectivity surpassed reference methods, with the medium supporting growth of all tested xerophilic and non-xerophilic inclusivity strains, and inhibiting all exclusivity strains
• Robustness testing indicated the importance of maintaining correct incubation temperature
• Consistency and long-term product stability were also confirmed

Conclusion

Easy Plate YM-R™ is a robust and time-saving alternative to traditional yeast and mold testing methods. It offers a simplified workflow, wide applicability across food matrices, and strong statistical validation. The method is especially valuable for manufacturers managing both high and low water activity products.

Presenters

• Shinichiro Sugiura – Primary Author and Presenter, Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• Daiki Utsunomiya – Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• Alice Foxall – Campden BRI
• Suzanne Jordan – Campden BRI

We welcome IAFP EU 2025 attendees to join Technical Session 9 (T9) to learn more about the validation and application of Easy Plate YM-R™ in microbiological testing. For additional information or to request a meeting during the event, please contact us through our [inquiry form] or speak with your local representative.

IAFP European Symposium 2025 – Poster Session P1-69

Evaluation of Accuracy and Efficiency for Novel Automatic Colony Counting System for Ready-to-Use Culture Media, Easy Plate™

Introduction

Ready-to-use (RTU) culture media improves food safety testing by offering quicker preparation, compact form, easy handling, and clearer visibility of colonies compared to traditional agar media. However, manual colony counting remains labor-intensive and requires trained personnel. To enhance efficiency, an automated colony counting solution is necessary.

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the rapidity and accuracy of a new Colony Counting System (CCS) developed for Easy Plate™ (Kikkoman Biochemifa Company). The CCS uses a general document scanner with an automatic feeder and dedicated analysis software based on object detection through machine learning.

Method

Ten types of food samples were diluted and plated on Easy Plate media for Aerobic Count (AC) and Coliform Count (CC) testing. Three levels of contamination were prepared, and results from the CCS were compared with conventional manual counting in terms of processing time and colony count accuracy.

Results

The CCS processed each sheet in approximately 5.0 to 6.4 seconds, regardless of bacterial load. In contrast, manual counting took between 13.8 and 44.5 seconds per sheet, especially longer at lower contamination levels (10–50 CFU/sheet). The correlation coefficient between the CCS and manual counting was over 0.98 for both AC and CC tests. These findings indicate that the CCS can reduce counting time by approximately 77% without compromising accuracy.

Significance

Combining ready-to-use culture media with an automated counting system provides an efficient, accurate, and cost-saving approach to microbiological testing. This innovation is particularly valuable for high-throughput environments in food safety laboratories.

Presenters

• Shinichiro Sugiura, Primary Author, Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• Kentaro Takenaka, Abstract Presenter, Kikkoman Corporation

Environmental Monitoring in the Food Industry: Advancing Hygiene with Innovative ATP Testing

Webinar Synopsis:

In this educational session, we will explore the importance of environmental monitoring programs in the food industry, with a particular focus on advanced sanitation methods. Attendees will gain insights into the science behind environmental monitoring, the role of ATP testing in hygiene verification, and how new technologies can enhance sanitation practices to meet the demands of food safety.

Key topics to be covered:

The Science of Environmental Monitoring:

Explore the fundamental principles of environmental monitoring in the food industry, including its importance in identifying and reducing pathogen risk. Learn how effective environmental monitoring programs can improve sanitation and protect public health.

ATP Testing: Advancements and Applications:

Understand how ATP testing plays a crucial role in sanitation programs. We’ll introduce next-generation ATP A3 technology and outline what it means for sanitation programs to be able to detect all three adenylates (ATP+ADP+AMP).

Environmental Monitoring Program Design:

Learn how to develop and implement an effective environmental monitoring program. We’ll discuss strategies for integrating testing protocols that ensure reliable hygiene practices, minimize contamination risks, and support compliance with food safety regulations.

Case Studies and Best Practices:

Hear about real-world examples of successful environmental monitoring and sanitation efforts, showcasing how companies have enhanced food safety, minimized cross-contamination, and optimized their hygiene protocols.

Choosing the Right Tools for Your Program:

While we’ll focus on the science and methodology behind effective environmental monitoring, we’ll also discuss how modern solutions, such as next-generation ATP A3 testing technology, can complement and enhance existing hygiene programs.

Target Audience:

This session is ideal for quality assurance managers, sanitation professionals, and food safety experts looking to enhance their environmental monitoring practices, improve sanitation effectiveness, and comply with regulatory standards. By focusing on the science behind environmental monitoring, we aim to provide valuable insights for those looking to improve their food safety and hygiene programs, while showcasing innovative tools as one of many solutions available in the field.

Takeaway:

Stay informed on the latest trends and advancements in environmental monitoring to ensure safer food production and safeguard both public health and brand reputation.

Reference 

• ATP Rapid Hygiene Monitoring (ATP Test)｜Test kit ❘ Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• What is the Kikkoman ATP Test ?｜Test kit ❘ Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• Why does ATP need to be measured?｜Test kit ❘ Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• Special Offers- USA & Canada only｜Test kit ❘ Kikkoman Biochemifa Company
• Lumitester Smart APP｜Test kit ❘ Kikkoman Biochemifa Company

In this webinar, Kikkoman Biochemifa and KleenMark will highlight some of the key aspects of the Lumitester Smart ATP Tester and how it is superior to all of the other units on the market. Our team will explain how better detection equals better protection. This will include a testing overview of how it works, features and benefits, and real-world applications of this revolutionary new technology. Learn how you can equip your team with this cutting-edge tool to help validate the highest level of cleaning.

The expert panel for this webinar includes:

• Michael Staver, Chief Operating Officer & Integrator, KleenMark
• Billy McGrail, Distribution General Manager, KleenMark
• Doug Lerch, Business Development Manager, KleenMark
• Alissa Shida, Regional Manager, Kikkoman Biochemifa Company

AAFP 2024 (Arkansas Association for Food Protection) 

Join us for an insightful Lunch & Learn event during our Fall Conference, where you'll discover how to revolutionize your microbiological testing processes with Kikkoman Easy Plate. This game-changing solution is specifically designed for the meat and poultry industry, ensuring reliable results, reducing waste, and boosting operational efficiency.

Presenter

Alissa Shida 
Overseas Hygiene Monitoring Testing Group, Regional Manager, Kikkoman Biochemifa Company

Overview: Kikkoman Easy Plate - Revolutionizing Microbiological Testing

Microbiological testing is crucial for ensuring food safety in the meat and poultry industry. Traditional methods can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. Kikkoman Easy Plate offers a streamlined solution designed to enhance efficiency and maintain the highest standards of safety.

What is Easy Plate?

Save time, labor, and money with Kikkoman Easy Plate. Easy Plate is a convenient, prepared media plates for faster and easier microbiological testing. Using a time-tested and AOAC validated culture media methodology, Easy Plate comes in an easy-to-use, stackable film plate format that saves on space, reduces waste, eliminates preparation time and labor, and streamlines your test procedures.

Key Features and Benefits

• Easy-to-Use: Ready-to-use plates eliminate the need for media preparation, saving valuable time and labor.
• Space-Saving: Stackable film plate format reduces storage requirements and frees up lab space.
• Waste Reduction: Pre-prepared plates minimize waste associated with traditional media preparation.
• Streamlined Testing: Each Easy Plate is designed for specific target organisms, ensuring targeted and efficient testing.

Specialized Testing Options

Kikkoman Easy Plate offers specialized plates for various target organisms:

• Aerobic Bacteria (AC)
• Coliforms (CC)
• E. coli/Coliforms (EC)
• Staphylococcus aureus (SA)
• Yeast and Mold (YM-R)
• Enterobacteriaceae (EB)

Why Choose Kikkoman Easy Plate?

• Validated Methodology: AOAC validated, ensuring reliable and accurate results.
• Cost-Effective: Reduces costs associated with media preparation, labor, and waste disposal.
• Efficiency: Speeds up the testing process, allowing for quicker decision-making and improved food safety management.

Upgrade Your Microbiological Testing Process

Kikkoman Easy Plate is designed to meet the specific needs of the meat and poultry industry, ensuring safety, efficiency, and cost savings. Enhance your microbiological testing today with Kikkoman Easy Plate – where convenience meets reliability.

Utilizing fermentation technology derived from a 350-year-old soy sauce brewery heritage of Kikkoman, our cosmetic ingredients boast a rich history.

Hyaluronic Acid FCH, Penetrable Hyaluronic Acid (FCH-SU), and Micro Hyaluronic Acid FCH are meticulously purified sodium hyaluronate products obtained through a fermentation process utilizing Streptococcus zooepidemicus, a type of lactic acid bacteria.

Our product range encompasses a wide spectrum of molecular weight grades achieved through our proprietary technology.

Soymilk Ferment Filtrate is a distinctive cosmetic ingredient sourced from fermented soy milk with lactic acid bacteria. Its major component is isoflavone aglycone.

Through fermentation, glucose in the isoflavone is broken down, enhancing its skin permeability.

Our ingredients exclusively feature Japanese soybeans.

Hyaluronic Acid FCH

 Penetrable Hyaluronic Acid(FCH-SU) and Micro Hyaluronic Acid FCH

• Permeates skin barrier
• Supports barrier function
• Skin activation

Soymilk Ferment Filtrate

• Cell activation - promotes cell turnover
• Anti-Glycation - Anti-aging
• Anti-Oxidation - Cell protection
• Promotes collagen synthesis- increase skin elasticity
• Activate gene related to beauty skin - increased gene expression such as SPTLC, FLG, LOR.

Objective

In today's dynamic food and beverage industry, maintaining impeccable hygiene standards is paramount to ensuring consumer safety and product reliability. To address these crucial aspects, " Enhancing Hygiene Control in Food and Beverage with ATP Test (Kikkoman A3) and Ready-to-Use Medium Easy Plate” is designed to provide actionable insights and practical tools for optimizing hygiene management practices.

The seminar will kick off with an in-depth exploration of the fundamental importance of hygiene control in food and beverage industry. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks associated with inadequate hygiene measures and the impact on consumer trust and brand reputation.

A key highlight of the seminar will be the examination of ATP Test (Kikkoman A3) as a cutting-edge solution for rapid and reliable hygiene monitoring. Attendees will discover how this innovative testing method can revolutionize their hygiene control protocols, enabling them to detect and address potential issues swiftly, thereby safeguarding product quality and consumer well-being.

Furthermore, the seminar will showcase the transformative capabilities of ready-to-use medium Easy Plate for microbiological testing processes. Attendees will learn about the unique features of Easy Plate, including its stackable film plate format, space-saving design, and AI-powered Colony Counting System. This system not only enhances accuracy and efficiency in colony analysis but also simplifies result interpretation and documentation.

Throughout the seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in interactive discussions, share best practices, and collaborate with industry experts to develop tailored strategies for implementing ATP testing and Easy Plate in their respective operations. Practical demonstrations and case studies will further illustrate the real-world benefits of these hygiene control solutions.

Overview

This seminar aims to explore the pivotal role of ATP testing and Easy Plate kits in upholding hygiene control and safety standards within the food and beverage industry. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the advantages offered by these innovative tools, including their speed, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and precision in monitoring hygiene levels across production processes.

Seminar Objectives

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the significance of hygiene management in the food and beverage industry. 
• Investigate the benefits of utilizing ATP Test (Kikkoman A3) for swift and dependable hygiene monitoring.
• Discover how Easy Plate can optimize time, minimize labor costs, and enhance product quality in food and beverage manufacturing.

What Attendees will learn 

• Gain in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge hygiene monitoring techniques.
• Learn how to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality in food and beverage industry. 
• Receive practical tips and resources for implementing ATP testing and Easy Plate
• Understand the Colony Counting System for Easy Plate, featuring highly accurate analysis powered by AI technologies.

Dr Stephan Speidel

Scientific Advisor at HyServe GmbH

Dr. Stephan Speidel, with a distinguished career that spans over four decades, stands at the forefront of innovation as the founder and senior advisor of Hyserve. Before laying the foundations of Hyserve in 2002, Stephan honed his expertise in international roles within the Big Pharma sector, an experience that endowed him with a broad perspective and deep understanding of global health and safety standards. Notably, his doctoral studies were characterized by establishing pivotal connections with Japanese research institutions, a testament to his commitment to fostering international scientific collaboration. Today, as a recognized industry expert, Stephan's influence extends beyond Hyserve. His profound insights and visionary leadership have been instrumental in steering Hyserve's focus towards pioneering solutions in hygiene management and quality control, firmly positioning the company as a beacon of innovation in the field.

Gabriel Linder

Managing Director at HyServe GmbH and Conscio Executive Board Member

With an extensive background in the Auditing, Testing and Inspection Industry, Gabriel has devoted nearly two decades to enhancing food safety and quality management systems. Serving as the former General Manager of Eurofins Global Control, he spearheaded initiatives to ensure the integrity of global supply chains. His leadership in the role involved direct oversight of quality management processes, ensuring clients adherence to international standards. Gabriel is actively involved in various industry-related boards and committees - such as Conscio Board of Directors - contributing his expertise to the advancement of food safety protocols. He is recognized for his significant contributions to the field, including authoring research on methodologies for improving food safety standards. Currently, Gabriel leads the HyServe team as it continues to grow and innovate in hygiene monitoring and food safety.

For more information regarding this event click the link below.

For more information regarding this event click the link below.

For more information regarding this event click the link below 

IAFP'S EUROPEAN SYMPOSIUM ON FOOD SAFETY 2023

Shaping the future of food safety since 2005, bringing together hundreds of food safety professionals from across Europe and around the workd to exchange ideas and gain knowledge about the latest in developments and techniques in food science and safety. The 2023 Symposium includes a vast array of diverse topics and speakers for those working in industry, government and academia. 

Poster Session

Performance Evaluation of Ready-to-Use Culture Media, Easy Plate AC for Enumeration of Aerobic Plate Count in a Broad Range of Foods, Environmental Samples and Pet Foods

Abstract

ATP tests for hygiene monitoring are used in food processing because they are fast, easy to use, and cost-effective. Recent research has characterized the limitations of conventional ATP tests—limitations that can lead to false negative hygiene assessments. The issue relates to the tendency of ATP to degrade in many soils and under common plant environmental conditions. If this depletion occurs, ATP-based assessments become increasingly less sensitive and may yield indications that the surface in question is clean when, in fact, significant levels of soil may still remain. Conditions resulting in ATP depletion are most common in typical manufacturing venues and can result in a false negative in areas sensitive to food hygiene maintenance. This webinar will present recent research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison demonstrating this ATP-depletion phenomenon and how processors can guard against such false negative assessments.

Learning objectives:

• Why ATP tests may show false negative assessments
• Which food, and which food processors, are most at risk for these false negative assessments
• How this issue with ATP may be impacting your sanitation program

Result Contents:
Two leading experts discuss several detection methods, including ATP, ATP+AMP and A3, for efficient and rapid hygiene monitoring, and explore a new way to set benchmarks. Join Mikio Bakke and Dr Arne Lundin as they offer an insightful talk into hygiene control, designed for those in charge of hygiene monitoring systems, quality control/assurance, food safety, and/or sanitation programmes.

Attendees will learn:

• Find out about novel food and beverage hygiene tests, including Kikkoman A3, for the creation of an effective environmental monitoring programme (EMP)
• Discover the benefits of Kikkoman A3 as an ATP test
• Learn how to effectively set benchmarks for residues, including allergenic food.

More Than Just ATP: Monitoring Brewery Cleanliness with the Kikkoman A3 System

Ensuring that your brewery stays clean is more important than ever, and checking your brewing surfaces for contamination is the best way to keep production up and running. ATP technology is a fast and accurate method to check the cleanliness of any surface in your brewery. This webinar will outline the benefits of testing for ATP as part of your brewery sanitation program, and how the new A3 technology from Kikkoman goes beyond ATP testing alone. Join the team at Weber Scientific to learn more about using the A3 system to make sure your brewery stays clean!

This webinar was held on October 20, 2021 and is now available online!
Register below and watch the webinar for free.