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MPL Laboratories
12 Wilson Drive
Sparta, NJ 07871

Phone: 973-300-9715
A Full Service Microbiology Laboratory

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Microbial Contaminant Testing

Category Press Release
Publish Date 3/21/2019
Author Paul Cochrane
Title Food Safety Alert Detailing Exposure Risks to Drug-Resistant Brucellosis Linked to Raw Milk Issued by the CDC
Introduction MPL Laboratories provides testing solutions to identify microbial pathogens and contaminants in liquids, foods, supplements, cosmetics, consumer products and pharmaceuticals.
Sparta, NJ, March 21st, 2019

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new Food Safety Alert. The alert was made after the CDC and state health officials began investigating potential exposures to Brucella strain RB51 in 19 states connected to consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk from a Pennsylvania farm.

According to the CDC, this type of Brucella is resistant to first-line drugs and can be difficult to diagnose because of limited testing options and the fact that early Brucella infection (brucellosis) symptoms are similar to those of more common illnesses, like the flu. The agency lists the following symptoms of brucellosis:

  • Initial symptoms can include fever, sweats, loss of appetite, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and potentially more serious complications.
  • In pregnant patients, Brucella infections can lead to miscarriage.
  • Symptoms can start anywhere from five days to six months after exposure.
  • People who are infected, but are not treated can go on to develop more serious complications such as arthritis, heart problems and enlargement of the spleen or liver. In rare cases, nervous system problems can occur like meningitis.


In late December of last year, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) advised consumers who purchased unpasteurized cow’s milk or dairy products from the farm to immediately discard those products. PDA also issued an order of quarantine to halt the sale of dairy products made from raw cow’s milk from the farm while an investigation was conducted.

The scientists at MPL Laboratories can analyze food products for microbial contamination, which can help industry professionals, distributors, retails and importers identify and avoid potential food safety alerts. MPL and their network of laboratories at EMSL Analytical, Inc., offer advanced testing to identify a wide range of microbial contaminants from raw materials, finished products and production surfaces. Their laboratories provide traditional testing methods along with high resolution microbial strain typing, source tracking and outbreak surveillance based on whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS-based subtyping and strain typing is a valuable addition to molecular tools used for foodborne disease management and investigation of outbreaks caused by environmental microorganisms.

To learn more about this or other beverage, food, supplement, cosmetic, personal care product or pharmaceutical testing services provided by MPL Laboratories, please visit www.MPLLaboratories.com, call (800) 548-1874 or email info@mpllaboratories.com.


About MPL Laboratories
MPL Laboratories (formerly Marypaul Laboratories) was founded in 1985 as a full service microbiology laboratory. It is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by PJLA, FDA and DEA registered, and NJDEP certified. MPL’s staff includes M.S. and B.S. degreed microbiologists and other dedicated scientists. The microbiology testing laboratory serves the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, personal care and food industries. MPL aims to provide its clients with high quality, reliable test data in a timely manner. The laboratory is part of the EMSL Analytical network of over 46 laboratories across the United States and Canada.

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