Patent Description:
The present invention relates to systems for sampling food products and methods for using same.

Food product sampling has been carried out for many years to determine whether the food contains pathogens, microbial contaminants and/or constituents in products. <CIT> describes bags for liquid such as milk and more particularly to bags which may be utilized in securing samples of milk and the like, as for test purposes. Other food sampling constructions are described in <CIT>and in <CIT> discloses in the above cited US'<NUM> a device for sampling of food handling surfaces for pathogen detection. The device has a handle for gripping a sponge that is used for sampling the surfaces. After use, the sponge is deposited in a sterile plastic bag.

It has been found that sampling of food products and/or surfaces can be efficiently carried out by providing an apparatus comprising a bag construction incorporating a sample collection material secured to an inside surface of the bag. The bag is of a size large enough to permit inversion of the bag to expose the sample collection material for collection of samples from surfaces, followed by re-inversion to enclose the sample collection material.

The apparatus is thus an all-in-one sampling kit that reduces the possibility of cross contamination and to reduce consumables per sample. Because the sample collection material is secured to an inside surface of the bag, the person charged with collection of the sample is less likely to drop and thereby contaminate the sample. Access to the sample collection material for sample collection is carried out in a two-handed operation while easily avoiding cross contamination of the sample by inversion of the bag. After collection of the sample, the sample collection material can be returned to the inside of the bag by re-inversion of the bag, which can then form a secure enclosure for the sample. Because the sample collection material is secured to an inside surface of the bag, there is no need to find a way to hold the bag open to insert a sample collection material.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with a description of the embodiments serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:.

The aspects of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather a purpose of the aspects chosen and described is by way of illustration or example, so that the appreciation and understanding by others skilled in the art of the general principles and practices of the present invention can be facilitated.

<FIG> show perspective views of a bag <NUM> constructed from a flexible, liquid-impermeable sheet material. In an aspect, the bag is constructed from a tube having a seal, such as a heat seal <NUM> closing one end of the tube to form a pouch. In an alternative aspect, of the present invention where the bag is constructed from two sheets having seals closing three sides of the sheets to form a pouch. In an aspect, the inside of bag <NUM> is sterile.

In an aspect, the bag is prepared from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, copolymers of ethylene, substituted olefins, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, acrylonitrile, cellulose and polylactic acid. In an aspect, the bag is prepared from a material selected from the group consisting of High Density Polyethylene, Low Density Polyethylene, Linear Low Density Polyethylene and Polypropylene.

In an aspect, the bag is made from a polymeric material having a thickness of from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils, or from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils, or from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils, or from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils, or from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils, or from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils, or from <NUM> mils to <NUM> mils. The correct values given in SI units are taken up in claim <NUM>.

The bag <NUM> comprises a sealable top opening <NUM>. In an aspect, the bag comprises a closure structure having cooperating interlocking or coupling structures that are engaged together. Such a closure is operated by pressing the opposite sides of the mouth of the bag together. An embodiment of this structure is described in <CIT>.

In an aspect, the bag comprises a closure mechanism having a slider. Such a slider, which is slidably coupled to each of the opposite sides of the mouth of the bag, is configured so that as it is slid in one direction, it couples the cooperating interlocking or coupling structures of the mouth of the bag together. In contrast, as the slider is slid in the opposite direction, it uncouples the cooperating interlocking or coupling structures of the mouth of the bag. An embodiment of this structure is described in <CIT>.

In an aspect, the bag comprises a closure mechanism that is a flap comprising a resealable adhesive on the flap.

Bag <NUM> is additionally provided with a sample collection material <NUM> that is secured to an inside surface of the bag <NUM>. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> is secured to an inside surface of the bag by an adhesive or by heat seal.

In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> is an approved food contact material. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> is selected from the group consisting of sponge, cloth or gauze. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> is a porous, soft and compressible material comprising cellulose and optionally further comprising wood pulp and/or vegetal fibers. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> is a cloth sponge. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> is a spunbond olefin polymer. In an aspect, the sample collection material has a surface area available for contact to the surface of a substrate to be sampled of from <NUM><NUM> to <NUM><NUM>. In an aspect, sample collection material has a surface area available for contact to the surface of a substrate to be sampled of from <NUM><NUM> to <NUM><NUM>. In an aspect, the sample collection material has a surface area available for contact to the surface of a substrate to be sampled of from <NUM><NUM> to <NUM><NUM>. In an aspect, the sample collection material selected from a sponge, cloth or gauze material having a weight of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> oz. per yard of material. In an aspect, the sample collection material selected from a sponge, cloth or gauze material having a weight of from about <NUM> to about <NUM> oz. per yard of material. The correct values given in SI units are taken up in claim <NUM>. In an aspect, the sample collection material is a woven material which allows particles to be trapped and also presents a rough surface texture so that, during sampling, bacteria is dislodged from the surface being sampled and retained within the sampling material. In an aspect, the sample collection material is durable so that the material does not fracture or come apart while being rubbed on the surface being sampled.

In an aspect, the sample collection material is in the form of a sheet or layer that is bonded to a portion of the bag. In an aspect, the sample collection material is bonded at a seam that forms the bag. In an aspect, the sample collection material is a plurality of sheets. In an aspect, the sample collection material is a plurality of sheets bonded together to form a bag within the outer bag constructed from the flexible, liquid-impermeable sheet material.

In an aspect according to the claimed invention, the bag includes a removable top seal <NUM>. In an aspect, the bag is initially sealed on the top by the removable top seal <NUM> to provide secure closure of the bag, to assure that the interior of the bag is not contaminated before use. In an aspect, this removable top seal <NUM> is a heat seal or a line permanent adhesive. In an aspect, the removable top seal is removed by tearing off the top of bag <NUM> at a line of weakness <NUM> provided in the bag. Aspects of this structure described in <CIT> and <CIT>.

After removal of top seal <NUM> (if present), the bag may be opened for inverting the bag to expose the sample collection material for collection of samples from food surfaces. In an aspect, the bag <NUM> is provided with side pull-tabs <NUM> that may be used to pull apart the opening of the bag. The side pull-tabs <NUM> assist in avoiding contamination of the inside of the bag.

<FIG> shows the bag <NUM> in an inverted configuration bag to expose the sample collection material <NUM> for collection of samples from food surfaces. Bag <NUM> is thus of a size large enough to permit inversion of the bag to expose the sample collection material for collection of samples from food surfaces and re-inversion to enclose the sample collection material. In an aspect, bag <NUM> has a linear opening dimension of from <NUM> to <NUM>, a linear bottom dimension of from <NUM> to <NUM> and a linear height dimension of from <NUM> to <NUM>. In an aspect, bag <NUM> has a linear opening dimension of from <NUM> to <NUM>, a linear bottom dimension of from <NUM> to <NUM> and a linear height dimension of from <NUM> to <NUM>. In an aspect, bag <NUM> comprises gussets to form a flat bottom.

In an aspect, the sample collection material is in a bag configuration that is secured to the inside of the bag. In an aspect, the sample collection material bag is secured to an inside surface of the bag.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of bag <NUM>. Bag <NUM> is provided with sample collection material <NUM> that is of substantially the same size as one of the walls of bag <NUM>. Sample collection material <NUM> is secured to the inside of the bag <NUM> by heat seals <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, which additionally form the bag <NUM>. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be secured to an inside surface of the bag by an adhesive or by heat seal that is separate from heat seals <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. In an aspect, bag <NUM> is provided with side pull-tabs <NUM> that may be used to pull apart the opening of the bag. In an aspect, bag <NUM> comprises a sealable top opening <NUM> such as described above.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of bag <NUM>. Bag <NUM> is provided with sample collection material <NUM> that is itself a bag constructed of, for example, two sheets material. Sample collection material <NUM> is secured to the inside of the bag <NUM> by heat seals <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, which additionally form the bag <NUM>. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be secured to an inside surface of the bag by an adhesive or by heat seal that is separate from heat seals <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. In an aspect, bag <NUM> is provided with side pull-tabs <NUM> that may be used to pull apart the opening of the bag. According to the invention, bag <NUM> comprises a sealable top opening <NUM> such as described above.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the bag shown in <FIG> that has been inverted to expose the sample collection material for collection of samples from food surfaces. Bag <NUM> is thus of a size large enough to permit inversion of the bag to expose the sample collection material for collection of samples from food surfaces and re-inversion to enclose the sample collection material. When bag <NUM> is inverted, sample collection material <NUM> likewise is inverted and encases the inverted surfaces of bag <NUM>. A large surface area of sample collection material <NUM> is therefore advantageously available for contact to surfaces to be sampled. In aspects, the user may rotate the inverted bag to use both sides of the available sample collection material <NUM> for sampling.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of bag <NUM>. Bag <NUM> is provided with sample collection material <NUM> that is itself a bag constructed of, for example, two sheets material. Sample collection material <NUM> is secured to the inside of the bag <NUM> at a number of points by bottom heat seal <NUM> and side heat seals <NUM>. In an aspect, sample collection material <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be secured to an inside surface of the bag by an adhesive or by heat seal that is separate from bottom heat seal <NUM> and side heat seals <NUM>. In an aspect, bag <NUM> is provided with side pull-tabs <NUM> that may be used to pull apart the opening of the bag. According to the invention, bag <NUM> comprises a sealable top opening <NUM> such as described above.

A method for sampling food products for detection of pathogens, microbial contaminants and/or constituents in products or on surfaces is additionally contemplated, comprising providing the apparatus as described herein; inverting the bag to expose the sample collection material; contacting at least one surface and collecting samples on the sample collection material; re-inverting the bag to enclose the sample collection material; and sealing the bag.

In an aspect, the sampling is carried out on a food product. The food sample may advantageously be sampled at any stage of processing or at any state of preparation for shipping. In an aspect, the food product is sampled at a stationary phase of processing. In an aspect, the food product is being transported on a conveyor belt at the time of collection of sampling. In an aspect, the food product is sampled when in the final package just before closure of the package. In an aspect, the food product being sampled comprises meat.

A method for sampling surfaces for detection of pathogens, microbial contaminants and/or constituents on the surface is additionally contemplated, comprising providing the apparatus as described herein; inverting the bag to expose the sample collection material; contacting at least one surface and collecting food material samples on the sample collection material; re-inverting the bag to enclose the sample collection material; and sealing the bag. In an aspect, the surface is a food preparation surface, such as a counter. In an aspect, the surface is a food conveying surface. In an aspect, the surface is a food storage surface. In an aspect, the surface is a surface on a piece of equipment. In an aspect, the surface is floor. In an aspect, the surface is a wall.

In an aspect, the sample collection is conducted by a person who places their hand in the inverted bag to facilitate the contacting of at least one food surface of a food product.

Advantageously, the sample collection may be carried out with a minimum of disruption of product production and product destruction. Additionally, the present apparatus and method permits spot analysis of any aspect of the production on a controlled basis, because of the portability and selectivity of the sampling process.

After sample collection, the samples are evaluated as appropriate to identify the pathogen or impurity to be checked for using techniques known in the art. Such techniques include culturing and incubating samples to provide materials in amount and form suitable for testing and detection of the material to be identified.

As used herein, the terms "about" or "approximately" mean within an acceptable range for the particular parameter specified as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured or determined, e.g., the limitations of the sample preparation and measurement system. Examples of such limitations include preparing the sample in a wet versus a dry environment, different instruments, variations in sample height, and differing requirements in signal-to-noise ratios. For example, "about" can mean greater or lesser than the value or range of values stated by <NUM>/<NUM> of the stated values, but is not intended to limit any value or range of values to only this broader definition. For instance, a concentration value of about <NUM>% means a concentration between <NUM>% and <NUM>%. Each value or range of values preceded by the term "about" is also intended to encompass the embodiment of the stated absolute value or range of values. Alternatively, particularly with respect to biological systems or processes, the term can mean within an order of magnitude, preferably within <NUM>-fold, and more preferably within <NUM>-fold, of a value.

Throughout this specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integer or step. When used herein "consisting of" excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim element. When used herein, "consisting essentially of" does not exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claim. In the present disclosure of various embodiments, any of the terms "comprising", "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of" used in the description of an embodiment may be replaced with either of the other two terms.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for sampling food products and/or surfaces comprising,
a bag (<NUM>) constructed from a flexible, liquid-impermeable sheet material,
the bag comprising a sealable top opening (<NUM>) and a sample collection material (<NUM>) secured to an inside surface of the bag,
the bag being of a size large enough to permit inversion of the bag to expose the sample collection material for collection of samples from surfaces and re-inversion to enclose the sample collection material, wherein
the bag is further provided with a removable top seal (<NUM>) external to the sealable top opening.