Dear Customer,

We would like to inform you of a temporary change to our Salmonella testing method due to a supplier stock issue that is outside of our control. To ensure continuity of service and maintain the highest standards of quality, we have implemented our contingency plan to assess various options and will be using the Salmonella PCR method in place of the One Broth One Plate Salmonella test.

Please rest assured:

• The Salmonella PCR method is fully accredited, meeting relevant regulatory and quality standards.
• We will make all efforts not to affect turnaround times however some delays may occur as we change testing protocols—you can expect communication of any significant delays.
• There is no need to alter the way you register samples; your current process remains valid and we will make the required changes internally.
• The price of testing will remain unchanged during this period.

We anticipate this temporary measure will be in place until Wednesday, 12th November, when our supplier is expecting to deliver stock; we will provide a further update at that time.

We appreciate your understanding and continued trust in our services. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email at stoke.customerservices@intertek.com.

*********************************************************************

Allergen testing and risk management resources

Allergen risk management continues to be a critical theme in the food industry, especially at this time of year when new foods for the festive season appear on our shelves.

We have multiple resources available to help you build a robust allergen testing and risk management programme.  Visit our Food Allergen Testing webpage to access:

• Four podcasts looking at allergen risk management from various perspectives.
• Our eBook “Food Allergens: A Guide to Testing and Labelling”
• Two webinars about food allergen testing

Contact you account manager to talk about how we can help you with allergen testing.

And don’t forget to follow our Intertek Agriculture & Food to see our posts about food industry topics, including a recent post about peanuts.

***********************************************

Logging Chemistry Samples on NetPortal – Avoid Mixing Turnaround Times

We’d like to remind you of an important consideration when logging Chemistry samples on the NetPortal:

🔹 Please avoid mixing turnaround times (TATs) within the same batch. Final reports are issued by batch and will only be released once all samples in that batch are complete. Mixing samples with different TATs can cause delays in report finalisation, making it appear that some results are "late"—even though they were completed on time and simply awaiting the longer TAT samples.

🔹 Similarly, please avoid mixing internal tests with subcontracted tests. Subcontracted tests typically take 10–15 working days to complete. If these are grouped with faster internal tests, the entire batch may be held up while waiting for the subcontracted results, again giving the impression of delay.

To ensure timely and accurate reporting, we kindly ask that you group samples with consistent turnaround times and test types when submitting them.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

This is a friendly reminder that the cut-off time for booking next day collections is 12:00 noon.

Any bookings made after 12:00 noon will be scheduled for the next available collection day.

We recommend placing your requests as early as possible to ensure timely service. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you for your continued support

Important Reminder – Sample Segregation Requirements

When submitting samples for multiple departments (e.g., Microbiology, Chemistry, Waters), please ensure the following:

• Package samples for each department separately—in individual bags or boxes.

• Clearly label the outer packaging with both the intended department and the customer name.

• Ensure each sample is individually labelled with the customer name as well.

Please note: Samples cannot be shared between departments due to Microbiology and Chemistry labs being located at separate locations. Therefore, a separate sample is required for each department.

New allergen podcast and e-book

The increasingly complex arena of allergen risk management remains a key challenge for an industry that’s under unprecedented pressure. That’s why we’ve launched a new podcast series all about allergens.  Listen to the first here: Managing Allergen Risks: Innovation and Regulation in a Global Food System.

To influence the topics covered in the rest of the podcast series please complete our 60-second allergen survey here: Allergens Survey April 2025.

You can also download our newly updated e-book “Food allergens: A guide to testing and labelling” here: https://www.intertek.com/form/food-allergens-ebook.

*************************************************************************************************

STEC - preventing and testing for this virulent E. coli variant

If you missed our webinar in February you can watch it here and learn from Yvonne Wood, our UK Microbiology Technical Manager, about:  

* Sources of STEC and how infection is contracted

* Symptoms and complications of STEC infection

* Laboratory testing for STEC

* Other significant non O157 STEC's

* Preventing infection in the home

Important Notice Regarding Sample Submissions

If you are submitting a sample that may be hazardous, toxic, flammable, reactive, or otherwise dangerous, please notify us in advance. This allows us to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our team and proper handling of your sample. Failure to disclose this information may result in delays or refusal of the sample.

Consumable orders

This is a kindly reminder that we require a minimum of 72 hours’ notice for consumable orders. This allows us to ensure that we have sufficient stock available and allows ample time for us to prepare and dispatch the items to you. We understand that sometimes things can get busy and deadlines can slip our minds, so we just wanted to send you a friendly reminder to help avoid any inconvenience or delays in receiving your order. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We greatly appreciate your business and look forward to serving you.