New food equipment sanitizing range cuts down-time, says Radical

Processors are constantly looking for innovative ways to keep their plant and equipment clean and free from contamination, which can in turn, spoil foods and lead to costly recalls and loss of brand confidence. UK firm Radical said that its Steritroxing technology harnesses the power of ozone to eradicate harmful contaminants such as Listeria, Pseudomonas and E.coli in hygiene critical areas, allowing the factory to return to full production within an hour. "After intensive research we have developed a gas-based sanitizing system that provides enhanced microbial killing power without the need for extended production down-time previously experienced with ozone-based fogging systems,"​ a spokesperson for Radical told FoodProductionDaily.com Free radicals​ The manufacturer said that the Steritroxing process is based on the production of free radicals through the generation of aqueous ozone and it includes four product categories: room sanitizing, surface sanitizing, produce decontamination and odour control. The complete sanitizing process is automatically managed by a fail-safe computerised controller, according to the developer. "Once the sanitizing programme is started and the operator leaves the room, the vapour quickly permeates all elements within the production area,"​ added the spokesperson. Radical said that a controlled removal of any residual vapours makes it safe to enter the room within a few minutes of the process finishing. "Food processors can choose between wall mounted or portable equipment depending on the number of rooms they need to clean or how often they need to sanitize,"​ added the spokesperson. UK​ trials​ Successful testing at both Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association and Manchester University supported by field trials with UK food processors have proven the system to be extremely effective, efficient and robust, according to the manufacturer. The Radical system uses ozonated water to wash down surfaces and remove unpleasant smells from the environment. With concerns over the use of chemicals such as chlorine, ozone is seen among manufacturers as a safer cleaning chemical. On June 23, 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted ozone generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status for use in food-contact applications.