Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food
Updated 8 April 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-data-sheet-freeze-dried-food/safety-data-sheet-freeze-dried-food
Safety data sheet for: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Proficiency Testing (PT) samples for food microbiology in freeze-dried format
Review date: 31 March 2023
Issued to scheme participants: Standard, Non-Pathogen, Pathogenic Vibrio, Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin and Campylobacter spp. schemes
Access: document to be downloaded from UKHSA website
Food and environmental proficiency testing unit (FEPTU)
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Email foodeqa@phe.gov.uk
Telephone 020 8327 7119
Website: Proficiency testing for food, water and environmental microbiology
1. Identification of the product and the establishment
Product
Simulated food samples for general microbiological examinations that may contain a mixture of micro-organisms or control micro-organisms in pure culture.
Establishment
Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Telephone (9am to 5pm): 020 8327 7119
Telephone (out of working hours): 020 8200 4400
2. Composition and information on ingredients
Glass vials of freeze-dried material containing a mixture of bacteria of Hazard Group 2 as defined by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens 2004 Approved List of Biological Agents.
A Hazard Group 2 organism may cause human disease and may be a hazard to laboratory workers, but is unlikely to spread to the community.
3. Hazards identification
Physico-chemical hazard
Not applicable.
Health hazard
Minimal risk of infection provided good laboratory practice is observed.
Environmental hazard
Not applicable.
4. First aid measures
If accidental contact with material occurs, laboratory staff must follow local first aid procedures that are normally applied following exposure to an equivalent food sample.
Following exposure to the material, medical advice must be sought.
5. Fire fighting measures
Not applicable.
6. Accidental release measures
Cover the area with absorbent material and flood with a suitable disinfectant. The area must be left undisturbed for 30 minutes before the spill is mopped up with an excess of absorbent material. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
7. Handling and storage
Store the samples at 2ºC to 8ºC. Samples must be processed in a laboratory environment which, as defined by national regulations or guidelines, is suitable for the practice of microbiology. Staff handling the material should have been trained in the handling of infectious biological material.
The material should be treated with the same degree of care as would be exercised with equivalent food samples submitted to the laboratory for testing.
Hand-to-mouth contact should be avoided while working with the samples and normal hand-washing procedures relating to the handling of routine samples must be observed also with PT samples.
8. Exposure controls and personal protection
Use good laboratory practice and wear appropriate laboratory coats, gloves and eye protection. Removal of vials from packaging and reconstitution should be carried out in an exhaust protective cabinet.
9. Physical and chemical properties
Inert odourless dry material.
10. Stability and reactivity
Storage is unlikely to increase or decrease the risks of infection associated with handling the material.
11. Toxicological information
Not applicable.
12. Ecological information
Not applicable.
13. Disposal considerations
The used material must be disposed of using an autoclave as for food samples containing infectious micro-organisms and in accordance with all local and national regulations.
14. Transport information
Refer to national and international regulations for transport of bacteria in Hazard Group 2 (biological substance, category B; UN3373).
15. Regulatory information
EC Biological agent, Hazard Category or Risk Group 2.
Note that this safety data sheet does not constitute the user’s own assessments of workplace risk as required by health and safety legislation.
16. Other information
In the event of an accident involving exposure of staff to the material contained in the samples, contact the Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit (020 8327 7119) during normal UK working hours. The Colindale Duty Officer (020 8200 4400) should be contacted out of hours.
For further safety information concerning this product, participants are advised to read the instruction sheets available on GOV.UK.