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Walter Brandl, Director of Chemistry for North AmericaMérieux NutriSciences gives the food industry an upper hand by providing practical and innovative food safety, quality, and sustainability solutions. Leveraging 50 years of scientific experience, it offers a suite of services to address human health challenges by improving food safety, from product design to manufacturing and distribution. It has a presence in 27 countries, over a hundred accredited laboratories worldwide, and more than 8000 employees tending to client needs.
“We analyze the components that should be in foods and ones that shouldn’t, then we confirm that the good stuff is in there and the bad stuff is not,” says Walter Brandl, director of chemistry for North America at Mérieux NutriSciences.
Mérieux starts with a broad approach, like basic pH tests and percent ash determination. It narrows the field to check for impurities and develops a qualitative sample analysis as the characterization progresses. ELIZA, DNA-based PCR, and LC-MSMS are some tools it employs when testing food samples to ascertain their quality.
Mérieux’s labs follow the same methodologies, use the same controls, and operate on a global quality management system. This guarantees the same quality standard to any client with an international market and ensures every product is up to code across all regions. A global presence also allows access to the combined expertise of numerous research labs, which it leverages to address client concerns with innovative ideas. A global presence requires conforming to multiple regulation authorities and facing varying challenges in different parts of the world. Gathering this knowledge and experience allows it to give clients deep insights into the hurdles they might face going forward.
“We are all part of one global quality system that we can use to validate our analyses and build upon and learn from each other,” says Daniel Kim, laboratory director at Mérieux NutriSciences.
A suitable example would be the discourse around ethylene oxide, an EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticide used to sterilize spices. While the product is banned in most parts of the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, the tolerance levels are relatively high in the U.S. and Canada. However, when a client had to deal with recalls for any product subjected to the pesticide, Mérieux quickly solved the problem by adopting a methodology to eliminate the use of ethylene oxide from its European facilities. It retooled the method to meet their matrix and sample type and established new supply chains to successfully circumvent the products’ recall.
Mérieux’s primary aim can be encapsulated in its mission statement; Better Food, Better Health, Better World. Catering to clients worldwide with unwavering attention to quality, it sets a global standard for food testing and fills a critical need for customers and consumers.
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Company
Mérieux NutriSciences
Management
Walter Brandl, Director of Chemistry for North America
Description
Mérieux NutriSciences is a food safety company based in Canada with a global presence across all continents. It provides high-quality food sample testing, shelf-life studies, and label review services from a scientific perspective by combining its decades-long expertise in the scientific and microbiology field with its consulting prowess.
The EcoVadis assessment, which is founded on global sustainability standards, assesses the extent to which a company has integrated the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into its business and management systems. This recognition underscores Mérieux NutriSciences' ongoing dedication to ethical business conduct, environmental stewardship, and its commitment to social responsibility.
Sherry Barsamian, the Senior Vice President of Operations at Mérieux NutraSciences, is a forward-thinking leader who fully comprehends the profound impact of receiving the EcoVadis award, as it advances sustainability throughout all aspects of the company. Her expertise and unwavering commitment have played a pivotal role in helping the organization establish a sustainable future. The Silver Medal represents tangible evidence of the company's resolute dedication, persistence, and diligent efforts in supporting sustainability and attaining commendable levels of excellence.
Sherry Barsamian remarked, "Our pursuit of the EcoVadis Silver Medal began with a clean slate in response to a customer's request. Through the collaborative efforts of our team, we not only built a foundation from the ground up but continually enhanced it, ultimately securing the Silver Medal. Our responsibility extends beyond mere recognition; we are committed to benefiting our employees, customers, and the planet, ensuring a sustainable future. We are dedicated to responsible actions and aim to reduce our carbon footprint by 50%."
Mérieux NutriSciences has been a trailblazer in the realms of food safety and quality, with a firm commitment to fostering sustainable growth. The company firmly believes that sustainable practices are a critical driver for innovation and value creation. It is continuously implementing strategies to reduce its environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and uphold the highest standards of business ethics.