3M carefully analyzes all scientific studies involving its products. We strive to be aware of any research that can help us continue to offer the most reliable product line in Food Safety, regardless of the sponsor of that research. Unbiased and scientifically sound evaluations of our products are beneficial to 3M and to the industry as a whole.

However, 3M is concerned about the scientific rigor of the Hygiena sponsored study “Performance Evaluation of Various ATP Detecting Units” that is currently being circulated within our industry. After careful analysis of the research methodology, we found the results to be obscured by multiple faults of experimental design, particularly the use of non-commercial swabs and the omission of key data tables in its public report. Although 3M products performed well in the study, we believe that unsubstantiated and poorly designed research does little to advance our collective knowledge of ATP analysis and products in the marketplace.

Lastly, 3M strongly supports the capabilities of the 3M™ Clean-Trace™ Hygiene Monitoring Systems. We invite customers to contact their 3M representatives or call 1-800-328-1671 to request the 3M™ Clean-Trace™ ATP System Challenge, a head-to-head comparison of ATP detection products that we conduct in your lab using commercially available samples.

Sincerely,
3M Food Safety