Food Safety: New FDA Clearance Strengthens Battle Against Food-Borne Illness
Danvers, MA (PRWeb) February 8, 2007 -- Selective Micro Technologies, creators of Selectrocide®, the world’s first antimicrobial solution of 99%-pure chlorine dioxide produced without a chemical generator, announced today a new FDA clearance that gives food processors a more convenient means to protect cut produce and poultry against food-borne pathogens and food-spoilage organisms. Unlike many other antimicrobials, Selectrocide has been cleared by the FDA for use on cut produce and poultry without requiring a post-application potable water rinse, making treatment more convenient and efficient.
Using Selectrocide, processors can now treat poultry and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables with chlorine dioxide without a post-processing rinse. FDA requirements state that food undergoing such treatment may be treated with water “in an amount not to exceed 3 parts per million (ppm) residual chlorine dioxide.”
Chlorine dioxide has been used for decades to sanitize public drinking water. Interest in other applications for the antimicrobial has increased over time, and now, for the first time, a nearly-pure version can be generated–without capital equipment–at the point of use.
Food treated with antimicrobial substances must often be rinsed with water in order to remove potentially harmful chemicals. However, this post-treatment “potable water rinse” may re-introduce harmful microbes to food. Different from other antimicrobial treatments because it remains a true gas in aqueous solution, Selectrocide’s nearly-pure chlorine dioxide can achieve its immediate technical effect on the surface of foods at comparatively low concentrations. The FDA clearance eliminates the need for post-treatment rinse.
In addition to offering convenient and efficient treatment against microbial growth on food, chlorine dioxide from the Selectrocide A-10 and A-15 products provides other benefits to food and poultry processors, including:
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Increased shelf life for processed fruits and vegetables
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Sensory characteristics of fruit, vegetables and poultry maintained after treatment
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User-friendliness—requires little training to generate and administer
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Compatible with stainless steel (and other non-porous materials) at recommended
application strengths
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Not considered a “skin sensitizer” at recommended application strengths
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Contains no byproducts at levels of concern—99%-pure chlorine dioxide upon activation
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Convenient packaging (low volume and weight) offers high yield—a 9” x 9” box
contains the equivalent of 6400 gallons of wash solution
More information about Selectrocide and Selective Micro Technologies can be found at www.selectivemicro.com or by calling Jon Kadane at 978-223-4040, x17.
ABOUT SELECTIVE MICRO TECHNOLOGIES
Selective Micro is the leading global developer and marketer of decontamination products based on 99% pure chlorine dioxide generated at the point of use, without capital equipment. The Company's Selectrocide® and Selective Micro®Clean products are designed especially for applications in which it is critical to reduce (or knock-down) microbial counts to low levels.
Selective Micro's products have received clearances and registrations from the FDA and EPA for a variety of applications ranging from disinfecting health care facilities and laboratories to treating fruits and vegetables and cleaning horticultural irrigation lines. Selective Micro's products are also becoming a preferred biocide for high-purity water systems and pharmaceutical processing equipment because of their efficacy at low concentrations, fast rinse-out/low flush volumes and ease-of-handling.
Selective Micro and logos are registered trademarks of Selective Micro Technologies, LLC. Selectrocide® is a trademark of Selective Micro Technologies, LLC. © 2007 Selective Micro Technologies. All Rights Reserved.
Media Contact:
John Fitzsimmons
781-455-8250
www.selectivemicro.com
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