USDA Honors Charm Sciences as Small Business Contractor of the Year
Charm Sciences, Inc., has received the 2017 Small Business Contractor of the Year Award from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) based upon its five-year contract with the USDA-Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) for their official regulatory testing of aflatoxin and vomitoxin in grains.
The mycotoxin tests contracted by GIPSA are for the detection of aflatoxin and vomitoxin in grains. Mycotoxins are derived from mold (fungi) and can occur naturally at harvest due to adverse climate conditions or post-harvest due to improper storage. Aflatoxin is a known carcinogen and vomitoxin (DON) causes feed refusal by animals and product quality issues in industries like flour milling and beer manufacturing. Charm tests contracted include: The ROSA WET-S5 Aflatoxin Quantitative Test, the ROSA FAST Aflatoxin Quantitative Test and the ROSA DONQ2 Quantitative Test.
“Charm’s vertical integration allows for constant evolution of our products using the latest technologies, all of the equipment and reagents sold are made here in the U.S.,” said Meikel Brewster, VP Sales. “Charm’s dedication to exceptional quality and customer service is second to none.”
Charm Sciences was established in 1978 developing the first rapid antibiotic test. The U.S. dairy industry adopted the first Charm test and was thus able to prevent antibiotic contamination of milk. Today, 75% of all raw milk in the world is being tested on a Charm antibiotic test.
Charm has three Massachusetts manufacturing facilities as well as offices in the Netherlands, France, Thailand and Ghana. Charm serves the dairy, feed & grain, food & beverage, water, healthcare, environmental, and industrial markets in more than 90 countries with over 180 tests. Networks of 70 international distributors represent Charm around the world.