Number: TB.

254816 Technology Platform: Petrifilm

Effective Date: March 2015 Originating Location: St. Paul, MN
Supersedes: February 2015

3MTM PetrifilmTM Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M™

Petrifilm™ Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate Raw Material
Change - Frequently Asked Questions

Overview:
Our current supplier of 3M™ Petrifilm™ Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M™ Petrifilm™ Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate
bottom film material is no longer manufacturing the product and there is a pending raw material supplier change. This
change will occur in Q2 2015 and will have no impact on the product, with the exception the plate gridlines. After our raw
material transition, if a customer chooses to utilize the gridlines for counting / estimation purposes, they will simply need to use
a backlight to make the gridlines visible.

Products Affected:

Product Description Catalog Number Plates per Pouch Pouches per Qty Per BU Bill Unit
Carton
3M™ Petrifilm™ Yeast and Mold 6407 50 2 100 BOX
Count Plates 6417 50 20 1000 CASE
6445 50 20 1000 CASE
3M™ Petrifilm™ Aqua Yeast and 6408 50 2 100 BOX
Mold Count Plate 6413 50 20 1000 CASE

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Frequently Asked Questions:
What will be different about 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count
Plate as a result of this raw material change?:

With the move to the new bottom film raw material, a backlight will now be required if the customer uses the gridlines for
estimation. The gridlines that are currently visible on the plate, will now only be visible when the plate is illuminated from the
back.

What 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate product features /
functionality will be unaffected as a result of this raw material change?:

The following attribute will be the SAME as the current plate:

Product formulation, product claims, product performance, product shelf-life, regulatory approvals, top film markability,
Instructions for Use (except the need to backlight the plate for interpretation), stackability, manufacturing and quality
processes, product packaging, MSDS, storage parameters – WILL ALL STAY THE SAME as the current product offering.

When will 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate move to the
new bottom film raw material?:

3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate with inventory with the previous
bottom film raw material (visible grid lines) will be depleted in April 2015 and production of this plate from that point forward will
use the new bottom film material.

Do any other 3M™ Petrifilm™ Plates use the new bottom film raw material?:

Yes, 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plates and 3M™ Petrifilm™ Rapid Aerobic Count Plates.

Why is 3M making this change?:

This change has been made due to a supplier change and also keeps the product structure consistant with the newest 3M
Petrifilm Plate offerings: 3M Petrifilm Rapid Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Rapid Aerobic Count Plate.

How has 3M verified the raw material change will not impact product performance?:

3M has conducted extensive and rigorous testing of the plate with the new bottom film to ensure that our customers will still
receive the same quality product. 3M Food Safety customers are at liberty to conduct their own internal validation to verify that
the product still meets their requirements. If any 3M Petrifilm plate is proven to be defective, 3M or its authorized distributor will
replace or, at its option, refund the purchase price of any plate. These are your exclusive remedies. You must promptly notify
3M within sixty days of discovery of any suspected defect in a product and return the product to 3M.

How will this impact regulatory approvals?:

3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate will maintain its current
Certificates, Recognitions and Validations. Refer to the full list of 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate Certificates,
Recognitions and Validations available at http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Microbiology/FoodSafety/product-
applications/one/

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Does this change your manufacturing ISO certification?

No, the 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate manufacturing location
will not be changing and this does not affect the ISO certification. The ISO Certification 9001:2008 only applies to the location
and environment of the manufacturing process and not the product itself.

Are you planning on making this change to other plates, e.g. 3M ™Petrifilm™ Aerobic Count Plate?:

No, not at this point in time.

Is the reading and interpretation of the plate the same?

Interpretation of the plate is the same, except that plates for estimated counts need to be backlit to view gridlines. Colonies will
have the same appearance and characteristics as the previous 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plates and 3M Petrifilm
Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate. See the 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold
Count Plate Instructions For Use or Interpretation Guide for more information.

Plates with colony counts within the countable range are counted the same as the previous 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold
Count Plates and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate. Plates with colony counts greater than 150 with
distinguishable colonies (not TNTC) should be estimated by using the gridlines printed on the film. To view the gridlines,
backlight the plate with a dark field illuminated magnifier or equivalent. Count the number of colonies in one or more
representative squares and determine the average number per square. Multiply the average number by 30 to determine the
estimated count per plate.

If gridlines are used as part of the process of enumerating colonies (for example: to keep track of colonies that have already
been enumerated) backlight the plate to view gridlines.

How do I backlight 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plates and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate?
What light source will be sufficient?

3M recommends the use a standard dark field colony counter, illuminated magnifier or small light box, which does not give off
excessive heat, to illuminate the plate.

Does this change affect the growth media, selective agents or growth indicators (formulations)?

No, this change does not require any changes to the formulation of the media. Colonies will have the same appearance and
characteristics as the current 3M Petrifilm Yeast and Mold Count Plate and 3M Petrifilm Aqua Yeast and Mold Count Plate.
Incubation time and temperature, indicated in the Instructions For Use, will not change as a result of this modification.

Does this change affect the storage conditions?

No, the storage conditions (as indicated in the Instructions For Use) will not change.

3M Food Safety
3M Center
Building 275-5W-05 3M is a trademark of 3M.
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 Used under license in Canada.
USA Please recycle. Printed in U.S.A.
1-800-328-6553 © 3M 2015. All rights reserved.
www.3M.com/foodsafety 70-2011-5077-1
TB.254816