Merck Acquires U.S. Food Safety Testing Technology Firm

German life science and technology company Merck acquired Bellevue, WA-based BioControl Systems Inc., a producer of rapid food safety testing technology and testing platforms, a Merck press release announced Wednesday.

Merck said the acquisition helps poise the company to grow in the food and beverage category, particularly in the United States. The Darmstadt headquartered company views BioControl’s technology and testing platforms as a compliment to its existing portfolio of instruments and consumables in its applied solutions business that is geared toward a food pathogen testing workflow.

“BioControl’s acquisition strengthens our ability to help customers protect the global food supply by providing an expansive portfolio of state-of-the-art testing technology,” said Udit Barta, member of the Merck executive board and chief executive officer of the company’s Life Science business, in a statement. “BioControl’s innovative assays and validated kits, when combined with Merck’s strengths in microbiology, filtration, and e-commerce will create a strong global provider aimed at solving tough challenges in the food pathogen testing space.”

The American firm’s pathogen detection kits can identify Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli 0157H7, and Campylobacter in food and food ingredients. Meat producers are among BioControl’s key customers, the release said.

Both companies agreed to confidentiality on the financial details of the transaction.

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