Ag-Defense Systems
Protecting our Food from Farm to Table

The very concerning rise in the incidence of food recalls in the United States is driving a now urgent public health problem with expansive and significant impact on industry and healthcare, creating yet another increasing burden for our economy and the already under-capable state and federal regulatory and response agencies. As now frequently pointed out by this current Administration, this alarming increase in health risk and the number of food recalls stems directly from a food safety regulatory environment that is fragmented, inefficient and lacking technology and resources. This failed system has led regulatory authorities to put the burden of food safety on the food manufacturer, yet most food manufacturers lack the technology necessary for effective pathogen testing. As a result, required food safety testing is sent to outside laboratories with associated long turnaround times and costs. Respondents in our primary market research indicated that testing can take 4 to 6 days with costs that can exceed $1 million/year.

Given the short shelf-life of many food products, long testing cycles mean losses in product and revenue while food is being held. Thus, food manufacturers often ship products to market prior to getting test results back. In the event of a bad result, the food manufacturer must order a recall in order to prevent a public health crisis. The business costs of ordering a recall are staggering both for the food producer and for local and federal emergency response. The 2006 spinach recall cost producers $350 million. In addition, processors must potentially face on-going litigation costs, loss of market value of company stock, and loss of export markets. The obvious opportunity costs of lost future sales and market positions are astounding. Further, costs to local cities and responders can also be staggering. This same story continues to repeat itself, year after year. And this is all from unintentional, “accidental” contaminations. The potential impacts from intentional scenarios are even more concerning.

The needed real solution to this urgent health risk and recall problem is detection at its earliest possible point and much quicker turnaround time on test results. Ag-Defense Systems, Inc. (ADS) is now developing new technology and a prototype device that automates complicated laboratory sample preparation and analysis into a user-friendly portable instrument called the BioSage. With the BioSage, a non-scientific professional will be able to test food samples on-site, anywhere in the food chain, and have results within an hour … well before any consumption.

The BioSage attacks contamination problems where they start, before they can reach consumers, with fast and accurate technology, and without having to wait on the significant time, costs and challenges of fixing “the system” from the top down.