Hydroxyl radicals offer an effective, safe, and scalable approach to food plant hygiene and food safety. This outcome can be achieved by devices that use ultraviolet (UV) energy to generate hydroxyls from water vapor, turning the ambient air into a mechanism for cleaning. 

Filling a critical knowledge gap in light of recent outbreaks and recalls associated with low-moisture foods, a study led by National University of Singapore researchers has characterized dry surface Salmonella biofilms and developed a fit-for-purpose, antibiofilm, waterless sanitization protocol for the low-moisture food industry. 

A research project funded by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) is exploring the microbial risks of unconventional surfaces in small and midsized produce packinghouses with the goal of determining sanitation best practices.

The objective of a water quality and maintenance program is to ensure that the water is safe and is of the proper quality for each application.

This article discusses factors to consider before making decisions on material selection and design of equipment and infrastructure, including product, cleaning chemicals and practices, activities in the area, and other considerations. It also explores the importance of cross-functional team knowledge and decision-making for design choices.

Recently concluded research funded by the Center for Produce Safety provides practical, immediately actionable insights that industry can integrate into their operations, ranging from sanitation best practices, to Salmonella and E. coli mitigation, to wild bird management, and more.

Hygiena has acquired Nexcor Food Safety Technologies, the creator of food industry sanitation and equipment maintenance software KLEANZ and CAMS-PM, and plans to integrate its SureTrend analytics platform into KLEANZ’s sanitation software.

A recent project led by Purdue University researchers has identified challenges to food safety in the low-moisture food industry, ranging from culture-based barriers to hygienic design and hesitance adopting food safety technologies.

Researchers are pointing to the food safety and public health threat of microplastics in wastewater, which can serve as a vehicle for pathogenic biofilm communities and antibiotics, introducing these hazards to the environment and crops, and even contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The challenge of mitigating E. coli in leafy greens calls for a rigorous, multifaceted approach that includes stringent sanitation practices, facility design optimization, and the use of advanced microbial control methods.