Neogen [NASDAQ:NEOG]
Making Every Dairy Safety Test Count

Neogen [NASDAQ:NEOG] supports food safety at different stages of dairy production through a range of testing technologies. Its portfolio covers milk residue detection, sanitation verification and microbial analysis, while its Neogen Analytics platform helps manufacturers organize testing information and respond to identified risks. Rather than approaching food safety as a single inspection before product release, Neogen provides tools that help quality assurance teams check conditions throughout production and act on test results before problems affect the process.

Evaluating Milk Before Processing Begins

Incoming milk testing establishes an important control point before raw materials enter a dairy processing operation. Antibiotic residues and contaminants such as aflatoxin M1 require different detection methods, making test selection dependent on the specific hazard being assessed. Neogen provides dedicated solutions that help dairy processors check incoming milk against safety requirements before accepting it for production.

Its Reveal Q+ test for Aflatoxin M1 uses a lateral flow format to detect the contaminant in milk. The test can be used with Neogen’s Raptor Integrated Analysis Platform, which incorporates incubation and instrument-based reading to support consistent analysis and electronic recording of results. Aflatoxin M1 presents a particular concern because it can appear in milk when dairy animals consume feed contaminated with certain aflatoxins.

Neogen also offers BetaStar tests for detecting specified antibiotic residues, including beta-lactams and tetracyclines. These tests address a different risk, with options designed for different residue-testing needs. By matching each hazard with the appropriate test, dairy processors can make informed decisions before raw milk enters a larger production batch. Detecting a problem at reception can also provide a clearer basis for determining how the affected shipment should be handled.

Verifying Sanitation Before Production Resumes

Following production, dairy equipment must be cleaned and prepared for subsequent processing. Tanks and piping systems require effective sanitation because residues left on food-contact surfaces can compromise hygiene during subsequent production. Quality teams need a practical way to verify the effectiveness of cleaning before equipment returns to service.

ATP testing, however, does not identify specific pathogens. It measures a biological cleanliness indicator rather than identifying specific microorganisms. A satisfactory ATP result does not independently establish that a surface is free of Salmonella, Listeria or other pathogens. Neogen addresses those risks through separate testing methods, allowing quality teams to choose the right approach for each safety check.

Rapid sanitation verification has practical implications for production planning. When equipment is scheduled for another processing run, delayed information can affect startup timing. Clean-Trace gives sanitation personnel timely measurements that can support a decision to proceed or undertake additional cleaning, while the recorded results contribute to ongoing evaluation of cleaning procedures.

Dairy processors also need to monitor microbial levels during production and in finished products. Some tests measure indicator organisms that provide information about hygiene or product quality, while others identify specific pathogens. Neogen’s microbiological portfolio supports these different requirements through technologies suited to laboratory testing workflows.

Petrifilm Plates provide ready-to-use media for enumerating microorganisms such as aerobic bacteria and coliforms, depending on the selected assay. Their prepared format eliminates the need for laboratories to manufacture conventional agar plates for the corresponding tests. After incubation, technicians can evaluate the colonies present to determine whether samples meet the relevant microbiological criteria.

For laboratories processing large sample volumes, Neogen offers the Petrifilm Plate Reader Advanced and Automated Feeder. The reader supports automated interpretation and enumeration of colonies, while the feeder can process up to 300 compatible plates in approximately 33 minutes. By reducing repetitive handling and counting, these tools free laboratory staff to focus on reviewing results and investigating samples that need further attention. Laboratory personnel can consequently devote more attention to evaluating findings and managing samples that require additional investigation.

Neogen’s Soleris Next Generation system provides another approach by optically monitoring microbial growth in specialized media vials. The system helps laboratories test for selected spoilage and indicator organisms, with results depending on the test method and sample being analyzed.

For pathogen identification, the company’s Molecular Detection System uses isothermal DNA amplification to detect specified targets, including Salmonella and Listeria. Unlike tests that count indicator organisms, these methods focus on detecting particular pathogens. The technologies serve distinct purposes within a food safety program, allowing laboratories to select methods based on whether they need a microbial count or a result concerning a specific pathogen.

Turning Test Results into Corrective Action

Testing becomes more valuable when quality teams can connect individual results with the locations and production activities they represent. A result outside an established limit may require immediate investigation, while repeated findings from the same area can indicate a recurring problem that requires changes to monitoring or cleaning procedures.

Neogen Analytics supports these responsibilities by bringing food safety data and associated workflows into a cloud-based platform. Its Environmental Monitoring Program module allows teams to map sampling locations on facility floor plans and organize testing schedules. By linking results to specific locations, the platform helps managers spot patterns and track changes over time.

When testing identifies a concern, the platform can generate alerts and guide corrective actions according to configured policies. Teams can document follow-up samplings and investigations, keeping a clear account of how each finding was addressed. Its Product Testing module also supports the association of results with production lines and lot identifiers, helping quality personnel identify which batches or materials may need further review.

Over time, these records can help teams distinguish isolated findings from recurring problems. Trend analysis can reveal whether a recurring result is associated with a particular processing area or whether changes in sanitation practices are producing the expected improvement. Reporting capabilities support internal reviews and audits, reducing the effort to gather information from separate records.

Neogen has documented the application of digital environmental monitoring at a global dairy producer that moved from manual testing records to a centralized system. The change gave the company a clearer view of where and how often samples were collected, helping it review its monitoring program more systematically. The example illustrates how organizing testing information can support program management beyond the immediate interpretation of a laboratory result.

Extending Quality Control Beyond Contamination Testing

Food safety is closely connected to product quality, particularly when dairy manufacturers produce items with specific composition requirements. Lactose-free products provide one example. Their labeling and product specifications depend on accurately determining the lactose remaining after processing.

Neogen’s Megazyme portfolio includes enzymatic assays for measuring lactose in dairy products. Its Lactose Assay Kit supports the quantitative assessment of low-lactose and lactose-free products. The method is recognized under AOAC Official Method 2020.08, giving laboratories a defined approach to assessing lactose levels. This type of testing provides information that sanitation checks and microbiological assays cannot supply.

The wider significance of Neogen’s portfolio lies in providing different forms of evidence for decisions made throughout dairy manufacturing. A residue test informs whether incoming milk can be accepted, an ATP measurement supports sanitation verification and microbiological assays help assess the conditions of products and processing environments. Composition testing adds information about whether the finished product meets its intended specifications.

Neogen Analytics provides a complementary capability by helping quality teams manage the information generated across supported testing programs. Each test continues to serve its own technical purpose, but the results can contribute to a more organized understanding of product safety and manufacturing performance.

From the arrival of raw milk to the release of finished dairy products, Neogen provides testing tools and digital systems that support decisions throughout dairy manufacturing. Its combination of specialized testing methods and digital monitoring capabilities helps manufacturers check incoming materials, verify sanitation, identify microbial risks and confirm product composition, while maintaining records that support consistent quality and food safety practices.