05/06/09 Listeria expert EBI Food Safety has announced a new partnership with US distributor HELM NEW YORK, Inc. to market its unique, award-winning anti-listerial bacteriophage product LISTEX to the North American dairy and fish industry.
 
GRAS approved, LISTEX effectively eliminates Listeria monocytogenes, without affecting the organolepetic properties of the food, such as taste, texture, odour or colour. Organic, safe and easy to apply, LISTEX can be used on all Listeria-susceptible foods, such as cheese, fish, meat and many ready-to-eat products. HELM, which has distribution centres across the United States and Mexico, specialises in the food market, and has a large staff of technical and scientific experts.
 
HELM will now assume responsibility for the distribution of LISTEX, winner of the prestigious FIE’s Gold Award, to all non-meat market segments, including the dairy, vegetable and fish processing segments. In Mexico HELM will represent LISTEX for all categories.
 
Dirk de Meester, EBI’s Director of Business Development, said: “Our association with HELM is a huge step forward and we are thrilled to be working with them at this exciting time for us. Helm’s size, locations and technical expertise across North America make it an ideal partner for EBI. LISTEX is the only product which so consistently and safely helps control Listeria monocytogenes. Local support provided by Helm will enable us to accelerate our market penetration in the US, making available the only tool that truly kills Listeria, rather than merely inhibiting its outgrowth.”
 
Philipp Mangold, President of HELM, said: “We are excited and honored to work with EBI on this innovative and interesting project. LISTEX has a high strategic importance for our distribution business in the US and our approach to the US cheese and fish industry. Based on a very close and customer-oriented cooperation with EBI we look forward to helping the US manufacturers fight such a serious threat as Listeria. ”
 
Earlier this year EBI announced the appointment of WTI as its US distributor for meat products.
Bacteriophages are natural microorganisms, omnipresent in the world around us – but have only recently been harnessed for mass-volume use to enhance food safety.  In a nutshell, phages act as a balance helping to keep unwanted bacteria under control, while keeping all else in tact. Highly specific in their targets, the LISTEX phages only kill the Listeria pathogen meaning that other desired bacteria, such as starter cultures are unaffected.
 
Listeria monocytogenes is responsible for almost half of all deaths caused by food pathogens - most recently in Canada during the summer of 2008, where an outbreak has so far resulted in 21 deaths¹. Used in tandem with proper hygiene practices, LISTEX offers a chance for manufacturers to prevent outbreaks and minimise the risk of deadly Listeria bacteria causing a product recall or worse.
 
De Meester will be ready to meet North American customers at EBI’s stand – 1419 - at IFT, Anaheim, CA, this weekend (June 6-9).