US meat manufacturer Fresh Mark has selected BOC's ozone technology as the centerpiece of its pathogen reduction programme. The strategy has been implemented at the company's Ohio meat processing plant to eradicate bacteria and control listeria and other pathogens.
The company has installed two BOC ozone systems. These include an on-site generator that produces ozone from ambient air, dissolves it in the plant's process water and disperses it through a spray system directly onto unpeeled wieners and some food processing equipment such as slicing logs.
Fresh Mark, a family-owned business known for its Superiors Brand and Sugardale wieners, hams, bacon, smoked sausage and deli meats, believes that the system offers excellent protection.
"The benefits of ozone-improved pathogen control and extended product shelf life - are well-established," said Ed Ater, an Ohio-based food processing expert and consultant to BOC. "It's no longer a question of if a food processor should adopt ozone in its pathogen reduction programme, but when - and which system.
"BOC's ozone system is the most reliable and effective technology of its kind on the market."
Mark DiMaggio, BOC's food safety products business manager said: "BOC has served the food processing industry for more than 40 years. That experience has enabled us to design an easy-to-install, easy-to-operate, reliable ozone wash system that integrates seamlessly with food processing operations, allows plants to incorporate a validated anti-microbial process into their HACCP plan and the System pays for itself several times over in extended product shelf life."
The BOC Group is a global gases, vacuum technology and distribution services company, serving 2 million customers in more than 50 countries. It employs 46,000 people and reported annual sales of over $6 billion last year.