P.O. Box 5401, SE 402 29 Gothenburg, Sweden
Tel: +46 31 335 56 00
Fax: +46 31 83 37 82
E-mail: eb@sik.se
Website: http://www.sik.se

Role and Contribution 

Workplan

Research Personnel

Qualifications

SIK-The Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology is a private, non-profit, industrial research institute, owned by SIK Members/Association (70%) and IRECO AB, a holding company jointly owned by the Swedish State and the KK Foundation, (30%). The purpose of the Institute is to strengthen the competitiveness of its member companies. The head office is in Gothenburg, with regional offices in Lund and Uppsala. The number of employees is approx. 120, most of who are university graduates. The areas of expertise in food microbiology are prevalence studies, bacterial contamination routes, HACCP, risk assessment, bacterial survival and growth, predictive modelling, Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli O157 and other VTEC, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., Clostridium botulinum, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Food safety research has been carried out on the farm, in meat abattoirs and meat processing plants, and in several other types of food industries. SIK also holds expertise in sensory analysis and in consumer studies on preference and attitude for food products.

Selected References

1. E. A. Bryhni, Agerhem, H., Claudi-Magnussen, C., Rodbotten, M., Lea, P. & Johansson, Martens, M. (2002) Consumers preferences and attitudes of pork in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Journal of Product Quality and Preferences (submitted).
   
   
2. Nerbrink, E., Borch, E., Blom, H and Nesbakken, T. 1999. A model based on absorbance data on the growth rate of Listeria monocytogenes and including the effects of pH, NaCl, Na-lactate and Na-acetate. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 47, 99-109.
   
   
3. Blixt, Y. and Borch, E. 1999. Using an electronic nose for determining the spoilage of vacuum-packaged beef. Int. J. Food Microbiol 46, 123-134.
   
   
4. Lantz, P-G., Knutsson, R., Blixt, Y., Al-Soud, W.A., Borch, E. and Radstrom, P. 1998. Detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in enrichment media and pork by a multiplex PCR: A study of sample preparation and PCR-inhibitory Components. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 45, 93-105.
   
   
5. Blom, H., Nerbrink, E., Dainty, R., Hagtvedt, T., Borch, E., Nissen, H. and Nesbakken, T. 1997. Addition of 2.5% lactate and 0.25% acetate controls growth of Listeria monocytogenes in vacuum-packed, sensory-acceptable servelat sausage and cooked ham stored at 4°C. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 38, 71-76.