Ecolab scoops IFT innovation award
The US-based company received the award earlier this week at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) show for its RAC residual antimicrobial coating program.
The program consists of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered products that enhance food safety by providing improved microorganism control of plant non-food contact environmental surfaces.
The coating is intended for non-food contact surfaces or processing equipment while it is not in service.
Antimicrobial benefits
The renewable antimicrobial aims to prevent, control and eliminate the growth of microorganisms on surfaces and the dried coating can be removed by water rinse or peeling.
A panel of nine jurors from industry, academia, and government with expertise in research and product development, processing and packaging technology, and food safety, selected Ecolab and three other companies from 44 entries.
Judging criteria included degree of innovation, technical advancement, benefits to food manufacturers and consumers, and scientific merit.
The RAC 100 or RAC 100 BL products are ready-to-use and can be applied with spray, roller, or brush to provide residual sanitizing activity on environmental surfaces.
Pathogen reduction
Proper application of the products can reduce 99.9% or 3 log reduction of pathogens, such as E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteric, and Staphylococcus aureus, clam the firm.
The products can also inhibit mould growth on non-food contact surfaces for up to 30 days on non-porous surfaces and up to 14 days on porous surfaces, they added.
RAC 100 is a water based formulation with filmforming characteristics and residual antimicrobial properties and was developed by DuPont in collaboration with Ecolab.
Last year the firm won the same award for its sanitation product Exelerate ZTF that tackles the build-up of zero trans fat oils in food processing plants.
