SafeBite - Rapid and accurate Listeria monitoring in the food chain

The Challenge

Listeria remains a recurring and growing concern within the food industry, particularly in seafood and other chilled, ready‑to‑eat products. The bacterium can grow at low temperatures, form biofilms, and persist in hard‑to-clean environments.

Current analysis methods often require several days to generate results. This delay increases the risk that contaminated products reach consumers before the problem is detected, leading to illness, product recalls, production shutdowns, and loss of consumer trust.

The Solution – a Graphene‑Based Biosensor

SafeBite is developing a GFET-based biosensor (graphene field‑effect transistor) that can rapidly and accurately identify Listeria monocytogenes without the need for laboratory equipment.

Advantages of the sensor platform:

• Results within 30 minutes
• Usable directly on site in production and retail
• Label-free analysis with minimal sample preparation
• Low-cost and user-friendly
• Suitable for routine checks by personnel without microbiological expertise

The technology is based on graphene, an extremely thin and sensitive material that enables detection at very low levels, even in complex food environments.

Project Implementation

The project is carried out in close collaboration with seafood producers and retail chains. The sensors are evaluated in real‑world environments, focusing on high‑risk products and consumer‑proximate areas, such as items close to their expiry date or sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Project activities include:

• Optimization of sensor performance through laboratory and pilot studies
• Field testing in production and retail environments over a 12‑month period
• Comparison with established methods such as ISO 11290‑1 and qPCR
• Development of user manuals, workflows, and training materials
• Continuous feedback from industry partners to ensure practical usability

Customer and Societal Benefits

SafeBite supports food producers, retailers, and quality managers who need:

• Faster and more reliable Listeria detection
• Easier on‑site sampling without laboratory support
• The ability to act preventively rather than reactively
• Compliance with EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2895

On a societal level, SafeBite contributes to:

• Fewer Listeria cases
• Reduced product recalls and lower food waste
• Higher hygiene standards across the food chain
• Increased consumer confidence in chilled foods

Future Potential

The technology platform can be expanded to detect additional bacteria and risk organisms, enabling broad use across multiple sectors of the food industry—from production to retail and food service.

SafeBite is a step toward a more robust and proactive food safety system that protects public health, supports industry resilience, and strengthens consumer trust.