2008-12-03 11:16:42 -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact Information:
Name: Laura Browne
Phone: +44 1477 539539
Email: thermo@scottpr.com
Website: www.scottpr.com
Secondary Contact Information:
Stephanie Kubina
+1 (408) 965-6022
stephanie.kubina@thermofisher.com
Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches Program to Meet Melamine Detection
Challenges
SAN JOSE, Calif. (December 2, 2008) - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the
world leader in serving science, announced it has launched a program focused
on assisting government and commercial food testing
laboratories in the
development and implementation of methods for the analysis of melamine in
food products imported from China. This new program comes in response to
the recent alert issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The U.S. FDA Import Alert #99-30 sets forth guidelines requiring the
"Detention without physical examination of all milk products, milk derived
ingredients and finished food products containing milk from China due to the
presence of melamine and/or melamine analogs." This alert is expected to put
new pressures on food producers and retailers and increase demand for timely
testing by commercial laboratories. The alert includes specific guidelines
for product testing as well as requirements that need to be met before a
detained product can be released.
"Thermo Fisher Scientific is able to provide a complete testing solution -
including sample preparation, instrumentation, consumables and methods
support - necessary to enable a laboratory to perform the sample analysis
according to FDA alert requirements," said Marc N. Casper, chief operating
officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. "We're leveraging the knowledge of our
food safety experts and our extensive portfolio of technologies and services
to develop new testing methods that increase sample throughput and ensure
that melamine testing is both rapid and thorough."
Melamine, an inexpensive industrial chemical used primarily in the
manufacture of plastics, and cyanuric acid, a byproduct of melamine, have
been linked to food contamination primarily in milk-based products and food
additives. Melamine is added to increase the perceived protein content of
milk products. Humans and animals cannot metabolize melamine and cyanuric
acid, which can eventually crystallize in the kidneys, resulting in a
variety of illnesses; melamine contamination has also been linked to several
deaths in China. While the current FDA alert is focused on milk and
milk-based products, melamine has also been found in pet foods, eggs and
produce.
"We anticipate a significant increase in demand for testing following the
FDA alert on milk-based products imported from China," said Dr. Stuart Cram,
who is leading the Food Safety Program within Thermo Fisher Scientific. "To
help our customers handle this expected increase in volume, we're consulting
with testing labs and offering methods and technology support. We will also
develop melamine analysis courses that we'll offer at our training centers
worldwide and at customer sites. These actions should help our customers
improve their sample throughput, which is paramount given the expected
volume of product affected by the alert."
Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed a testing method based on a Thermo
Scientific liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (TSQ Quantum
LC-MS/MS) system. This method is currently being used as a reference by the
labs under the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine (AQSIQ) in China to develop an LC-MS/MS method for the detection
of melamine in milk and infant formula.
In addition to the LC-MS/MS solution, Thermo Fisher Scientific can provide
screening and confirmation techniques based on its Thermo Scientific gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technologies. The company's ITQT
Series quadrupole ion trap GC/MSn, or its TSQ Quantum triple quadrupole
GC/MS with highly selective reaction monitoring (H-SRM), can perform quick
and accurate analysis of melamine in complex samples such as milk and baby
formula. Thermo Fisher's comprehensive offerings also include a range of
sample collection, sample preparation and data management products.
Completing the workflow solution is a broad portfolio of chemicals,
consumables and equipment, along with e-commerce and supply chain services
available through the company's Fisher Scientific brand.
For the latest information about Thermo Fisher Scientific solutions and the
wide range of applications for food safety, please call 800-532-4752, e-mail
analyze@thermofisher.com or visit www.thermo.com/foodsafety.
Thermo Scientific is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in
serving science.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving
science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and
safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000
employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech
companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research
institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and
industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier
brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical
challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo
Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical
instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables
and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher
Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals,
supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and
education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to
customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace
of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for
shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in the
company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 27,
2008, under the caption "Risk Factors," which is on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available in the "Investors" section of
our Website under the heading "SEC Filings." Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by
forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to:
competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships
and revenues; the need to develop new products and adapt to significant
technological change; implementation of strategies for improving internal
growth; general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; use
and protection of intellectual property; dependence on customers' capital
spending policies and government funding policies; realization of potential
future savings from new productivity initiatives; the effect of changes in
governmental regulations; the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on
international operations; the effect of laws and regulations governing
government contracts; the effect of competing with certain of our customers
and suppliers; and the effect of rapid changes in the healthcare industry.
While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the
future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our
estimates change and, therefore, you should not rely on these
forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date
subsequent to today.
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