Wash Water Sanitation

Devon Zagory and Trevor Suslow From: IFPA Food Safety Guidelines, th !dition, "##" $%G% Gorny, !ditor Wash Water Sanitation &arge volumes of water are 'ommonly used during the (ostharvest handling and (ro'essing of minimally (ro'essed fruits and vegeta)les% !'onomi' 'onsiderations and wastewater dis'harge regulations ma*e water re'ir'ulation a 'ommon (ra'ti'e in the industry% Water re'ir'ulation 'an in'rease the (otential ris* of de'ay, s(oilage, and food+)orne illness )y readily distri)uting a (oint sour'e 'ontaminant ,one lot, one )in, or even one (lant- to non+'ontaminated (rodu'e% Disinfe'tion of water is a 'riti'al ste( to minimi.e the (otential transmission of (athogens from a water sour'e to (rodu'e, among (rodu'e within a lot, and )etween lots over time% Water+)orne mi'roorganisms whether (ostharvest (lant (athogens or agents of human illness 'an )e ra(idly a'/uired and ta*en u( on (lant surfa'es% 0atural (lant surfa'e 'ontours, natural o(enings, harvest and trimming wounds, and handling in1uries 'an serve as (oints of entry for mi'ro)es% Within these (rote'ted sites, mi'ro)es are unaffe'ted )y 'ommon (ostharvest water treatments su'h as 'hlorine, 'hlorine dio2ide, o.one, (ero2ide, (ero2ya'eti' a'id, 34+irradiation and other a((roved treatments% It is essential, therefore, that the water used for washing, 'ooling, water+mediated trans(orting ,flumes-, (ostharvest treatment dren'hes, or other (ro'edures )e maintained in a 'ondition suita)le for the a((li'ation% The standards for mi'ro)ial /uality of the water in'rease as (rodu't moves from the field to final (ro'essing% If (rodu'e )e'omes 'ontaminated )y human (athogens there is no 'urrently availa)le or 'ommonly a''essi)le (ro'ess, other than thorough 'oo*ing, that 'an ensure 'om(lete elimination% This is why (revention of 'ontamination is the first line of defense in any (rodu'e o(eration% Fresh fruits and vegeta)les are often washed in (re(aration for (ro'essing or mar*eting% While washing 'an remove some of the surfa'e mi'roorganisms, it 'annot remove them all% 5edu'tions o)served over a wide range of 'onditions are ty(i'ally from " to 6###+fold% Some resear'h studies with 'ertain (rodu'e items, for e2am(le )ell (e((er, re(ort a .ero redu'tion in total surfa'e mi'ro)es, even with very high 'hlorine 'on'entrations% Des(ite these limitations at the surfa'e of (rodu'e, water disinfe'tion remains an essential a'tivity as inade/uately or im(ro(erly saniti.ed wash water 'an itself )e'ome a ma1or sour'e of 'ontamination and its /uality should )e 'arefully monitored and 'ontrolled Wash water in tan*s, re+'ir'ulated water, or water that is reused in a s(ray wash system, 'an )e'ome 'ontaminated with (athogens if 'ontaminated (rodu't 'oming in from the field is washed in that water% Pathogens 'an survive for relatively long times in water, or in (lant residue entra((ed in (ro'ess line e/ui(ment, and 'an su)se/uently 'ontaminate 'lean (rodu't that (asses through that water% Produ't wash water, if not (ro(erly saniti.ed, 'an )e'ome a sour'e of mi'ro)iologi'al 'ontamination for every

(ie'e of (rodu't that (asses through that water% It is a wides(read mis'on'e(tion that 'hlorinated wash water 'leans and7or sterili.es (rodu'e as it is washed% Wash water, even if 'hlorinated, may do little more to eliminate mi'ro)es from (rodu'e than the me'hani'al a'tion of washing with (ota)le, non+'hlorinated water% 8hlorine, o.one, organi' a'ids and ultraviolet light do saniti.e the wash water and maintain a low mi'ro)iologi'al 'ount in the water% In this way the water does not )e'ome a reservoir for )a'teria to infest the (rodu'e% Performan'e 4aria)les While sodium ,or sometimes 'al'ium- hy(o'hlorite is most 'ommonly used in (rodu'e wash water, there are a num)er of water saniti.ing 'om(ounds a((roved for use with fresh or fresh+'ut (rodu'e% A list of a((roved 'om(ounds a((ears in Ta)le 6 and a 'om(arison of their advantages and disadvantages a((ears in Ta)le "% The antimi'ro)ial a'tivity of 'hlorine 'om(ounds de(ends on the amount of hy(o'hlorous a'id ,9:8l- (resent in the water% This, in turn, de(ends on the (9 of the water, the amount of organi' material in the water and, to some e2tent, the tem(erature of the water% A)ove (9 ;%< very little 'hlorine o''urs as a'tive hy(o'hlorous a'id ,9:8l-, )ut rather as ina'tive hy(o'hlorite ,:8l +-% Therefore, the (9 of the water should )e *e(t )etween =%# and ;%< to ensure 'hlorine a'tivity% If the water (9 gets )elow =%# 'hlorine gas may )e formed whi'h is irritating to wor*ers% !ffe't of (9 on 8hlorine Disso'iation Produ'ts 6## ># =# # "# # # 6 " ? < (9 = ; > @ 6#
9:8l :8l+

The amount of 9:8l needed to maintain the desired antimi'ro)ial a'tion within water 'arrying (rodu'e de(ends on several dynami' fa'torsB a *ey one is 'onta't time% In minimal (ro'essing, residen'e times of (rodu't in water, at (ea* 'hlorine demand ,generally 'aused )y e2udates from 'ut surfa'es-, are generally very short% :rgani'

A 8hlorine (resent as 9:8l or :8l+

material in the water will redu'e the a'tivity of 'hlorine, so (eriodi'ally re(la'ing or filtering the water is im(ortant to maintain 'leanliness% 8hlorine 8hemistry% 8hlorine is very rea'tive and so 'om)ines with almost any o2idi.a)le su)strate to form se'ondary 'om(ounds% In addition, the out'ome of disso'iation of 'hlorine in water de(ends on the form of 'hlorine used, the (9 of the water and the amounts and *inds of inorgani' ,(arti'ularly ammonia, nitrites, iron, and manganese- and organi' materials ,(arti'ularly amino a'ids and sim(le (roteins- (resent in the water% All of these fa'tors ma*e the intera'tions of 'hlorine in water 'om(le2 and hen'e the wides(read 'onfusion within the industry on how )est to use 'hlorine% Terms su'h as total 'hlorine, 'hlorine demand, 'om)ined 'hlorine, free 'hlorine, free availa)le 'hlorine, residual 'hlorine, hy(o'hlorite and hy(o'hlorous a'id are enough to 'onfuse the most dedi'ated sanitation manager% :f the many (ossi)le forms of 'hlorine, hy(o'hlorous a'id is the really good disinfe'tant% This form is most readily transferred a'ross a mi'ro)ial 'ell wall to )egin the *illing (ro'ess% Thus, in our management of 'hlorine, we want to ma2imi.e the hy(o'hlorous a'id and minimi.e all the other forms of 'hlorine% When either 'hlorine gas ,8l"- or sodium hy(o'hlorite solution ,0a:8l- or solid 'al'ium hy(o'hlorite C8a ,:8l-"D are added to water, the following rea'tions o''ur:

Cl2 + H2 O HOCl + H+ + Cl OCl + H2 O HOCl + OH

The hy(o'hlorous a'id ,9:8l- esta)lishes a dynami', two+way )alan'e in water:

HOCl OCl + H+

For (ra'ti'al dis'ussion, the (9 of the solution determines the relative (ro(ortions of hy(o'hlorous a'id ,9:8l- and hy(o'hlorite ,:8l +-% At #8,?"oF-, 'hlorine is (resent as half a'tive 9:8l and half ina'tive :8l+ at (9 ;%>% At lower (9 there is relatively more 9:8l and relatively )etter antimi'ro)ial a'tivity% At ? o8 ,?;oF-, 9:8l is a((ro2imately 6<# times more effe'tive in mi'ro)ial *illing (otential than :8l +%When 'hlorine gas disso'iates, one of the (rodu'ts is 9E or hydrogen ions% These 'ause the (9 to )e lowered slightly, whi'h im(roves the 'hlorine a'tivity% Fi'ar)onates and other inorgani's in most water su((lys would largely negate this effe't and may even 'ause an in'rease in (9 ,more al*aline-% When hy(o'hlorites disso'iate, one of the )y(rodu'ts is :9 +, whi'h raises the (9 slightly and redu'es the antimi'ro)ial effe'tiveness % These effe'ts will )e greatest in un+)uffered water% What Is Free 8hlorineG

Free 'hlorine ,or free a'tive 'hlorine- refers to the total amount of elemental 'hlorine gas ,8l"-, hy(o'hlorous a'id and hy(o'hlorite% Total 'hlorine, in turn, would also in'lude 0a:8l, 8a,:8l-", 'hloramines, 'hloroform and other less a'tive forms% At high (9 the free 'hlorine 'ontent 'an )e high, )ut it will mostly )e in the form of hy(o'hlorite and so will )e ineffe'tive as a saniti.ing 'om(ound% The same free 'hlorine 'ontent at lower (9 will )e mu'h more effe'tive% Thus, measuring free 'hlorine does not assure effi'a'y% It is 'ru'ial that the (9 )e )elow ;%< so that the ma1ority of the free 'hlorine is a'tive hy(o'hlorous a'id% What 8hlorine Does and Does 0ot Do% 8hlorine is a very good antimi'ro)ial and saniti.ing agent% In high enough 'on'entrations, it *ills )a'terial 'ells on 'onta't% Host ty(es of )a'teria, if free floating in water, are *illed at very low 'on'entrations, 6+" ((m, in less than one minute% It is less effe'tive against )a'terial and fungal s(ores and some viruses )ut, given enough time and 'on'entration, 'hlorine will *ill s(ores too% 8hlorine 'an hel( (revent )uildu( of )iofilms on ma'hinery and 'an (revent (roliferation of mi'roorganisms in wash water% 8hlorine is not a sterilant% While it 'an redu'e mi'ro)ial (o(ulations on (rodu'e, it will not ma*e (rodu'e mi'ro)e+free ,In fa't, this is not generally felt to )e a desirea)le goal- % 8hlorine has virtually no (enetrating a'tion so it is not effe'tive against fungi and )a'teria within (lant tissue% While 'hlorine 'an hel( (revent (ostharvest disease )y *ee(ing the wash water 'lean or delay de'ay develo(ment )y redu'ing surfa'e (athogens, it 'annot )e relied on to 'ure diseased (rodu't that has already )een infe'ted in the field or during (ro'essing% 8hlorine has no residual effe't so it will not (revent re'ontamination after washing% Prevention of re'ontamination must )e a''om(lished through 'are in handling and through a 'om(rehensive (rogram of wor*er and fa'ility sanitation% 8hlorine will not 'onfer any )enefits if the wash water is not *e(t relatively 'lean and free of organi' matter, if the (9 of the water is high, if the 'on'entration of a'tive 'hlorine ,hy(o'hlorous a'id- is not high enough, or if the 'hlorine is not allowed to 'onta't the (rodu't for enough time% If the 'hlorination system is (ro(erly monitored and o(erated, 'hlorine 'an )e an im(ortant and useful (art of a sanitation (rogram% Alternatives to 8hlorine% Alternatives to hy(o'hlorite are availa)le for (rodu'e water sanitation ,Ta)les 6 I "-% 8hlorine dio2ide to2i'ity to target mi'ro)es is less affe'ted )y (9 and organi' mater than is hy(o'hlorite% 8hlorine dio2ide is a'tive at lower 'on'entrations than hy(o'hlorites% 8hlorine dio2ide generation systems are generally more e2(ensive than hy(o'hlorite, though sta)ili.ed li/uid formulations are now availa)le that are 'hea(er and easier to use than (revious systems% Sodium hy(o)romite ,)romine )ased- is also

a((roved for use in (la'e of sodium hy(o'hlorite )ut is not 'urrently used for water sanitation in the (rodu'e industry% 3ltraviolet light systems are availa)le for water sterili.ation as well as for use on (rodu'e surfa'es% 3ltraviolet light leaves no 'hemi'al residues and is not affe'ted )y water 'hemistry% 9owever, it is more im(a'ted )y tur)idity and so re/uires 'lear water to )e effe'tive% :.one is also a((roved for use as a water saniti.ing agent% :.one is a very good saniti.er )ut is su)1e't to environmental and wor*er e2(osure regulations% :.one is a very strong o2idi.er and, unli*e 'hlorine, will rea't /ui'*ly with 'om(le2 organi' mole'ules ma*ing less availa)le for mi'ro)ial *illing% Solu)ility in'reases in 'hilled water, )ut it may )e diffi'ult to maintain a 'onsistent dosage sin'e it )rea*s down to o2ygen very ra(idly% :rgani' a'id formulations, su'h as (ero2ya'eti' a'id mi2ed with sodium hydro2ide ,Tsunami-, are also availa)le for use in wash water sanitation% These (rodu'ts are a'tive over a )road (9 range and are less sensitive to organi' matter than is sodium hy(o'hlorite%

Activities and environmental sensitivities of wash water sanitizers.

Hypochlorites Chlorine dioxide Ozone Peroxyacetic acid U light pH =%#+;%< =%#+6#%# =%#+>%# 6%#+>%# 0ot affe'ted Organic Matter 4ery sensitive Sensitive Somewhat sensitive Somewhat sensitive Somewhat sensitive Biocidal Activity :2idi.er, meta)oli' (oison :2idi.er :2idi.er :2idi.er Disru(ts D0A

Heasurement of Performan'e Heasurement of Saniti.er A'tivity% :f the five 'lasses of saniti.ing 'om(ounds listed a)ove, four are o2idi.ing agents% That is, they *ill mi'roorganisms through o2idation rea'tions, as well as )y less understood me'hanisms% 3ltraviolet light *ills mi'ro)es through (hysi'al disru(tion of their geneti' material, or D0A% A num)er of methods are used to measure the 'on'entrations of saniti.ing 'om(ounds in water% 5egardless of the saniti.ing and monitoring system used, it is 'riti'al that the effi'a'y of the method )e validated% As mentioned (reviously, effe'tive 'on'entrations are also determined )y other im(ortant fa'tors, su'h as (9 and tem(erature%% These (ro(erties need to )e measured on a routine )asis and a((ro(riate re'ords should )e *e(t% Where (ossi)le, 'ontinuous monitoring is (refera)le to s(ot+'he'*ing% The various o2idi.ing 'om(ounds have )een measured in different waysB free 'hlorine, total 'hlorine, availa)le 'hlorine, (arts (er million of o.one or 'hlorine dio2ide, (er'ent (ero2ya'eti' a'id% Generally, test *its )ased on 'olor rea'tions with an o2idi.a)le 'hemi'al are 'om(ared to standard 'harts to determine the 'on'entration

range of material in water% Hore e2(ensive systems are )ased on similar rea'tions measured in a 'ali)rated, handheld s(e'tro(hotometer% 9owever, in additon, what we are really interested in *nowing is not 1ust how mu'h saniti.er is (resent, )ut rather how effe'tively the saniti.er is *illing mi'roorganisms% This 'ould )e measured )y ta*ing water sam(les to a la) and 'ounting the mi'roorganisms in the water% 9owever, this is slow, relatively e2(ensive, and not suited for on+the+s(ot de'ision ma*ing% 3sing :2idation 5edu'tion Potential for Water Disinfe'tion Honitoring, 8ontrol and Do'umentation% A''urate monitoring and re'ording of disinfe'tion (ro'edures is an im(ortant 'om(onent of a sound (ostharvest /uality and safety (rogram during (rodu't 'ooling and (ro'essing% Hany fresh 'ut (ro'essors have ado(ted :2idation+5edu'tion Potential ,:5P-, measured in millivolts ,m4-, as a (rimary a((roa'h to standardi.ing water disinfe'tion (arameters% :(erationally mu'h li*e a digital thermometer or (9 (ro)e, :5P sensors allow the easy monitoring and tra'*ing of 'riti'al disinfe'tant levels in water systems% 8ou(led with (9 sensors, more so(histi'ated systems use :5P sensors to (rovide automated Jdemand+)asedK in1e'tion of hy(o'hlorite ,or other a((roved o2idi.ing disinfe'tant- and a'id, ty(i'ally 'itri' a'id% Benefits of ORP Systems :2idation+5edu'tion Potential ,:5P- offers many advantages to Jreal timeK monitoring and re'ording of water disinfe'tion (otential, a 'riti'al water /uality (arameter% Im(rovements in (ro)e design and 'ontinuous analog re'ording ,(a(er stri( or revolving 'hart- or 'om(uter+lin*ed data in(ut are availa)le% 5e'ord+*ee(ing 'an )e'ome a largely automated a'tivity% !valuation of (ro'ess 'ontrol )y flu'tuating water /uality, (rodu't, and season, for e2am(le, are easier with the gra(hi' out(uts of availa)le systems% Pro)es have )een integrated to audi)le, visual and remote alarm systems to notify the o(erator of out+of+range o(eration% 9and+held devi'es are afforda)le and are an essential )a'* u( to 'ross+referen'e the o(eration of an in+line (ro)e% A (rimary advantage of using :5P for water system monitoring is that it (rovides the o(erator with a ra(id and single+value assessment of the disinfe'tion (otential of water in a (ostharvest system% 5esear'h has shown that at an :5P value of =<# to ;## m4, s(oilage )a'teria and (athogeni' )a'teria, su'h as E. coli and Salmonella, are ra(idly *illed ,as few as 6# se'onds in 'lear water-% S(oilage yeast and the more sensitive ty(es of s(ore+forming fungi are also *illed at this level after a 'onta't time of a several minutes or less% 3nfortunately, resistant s(ore+forming (arasites, su'h as Cryptosporidium, are highly resistant to 'hlorination and other wea* o2idi.ers or meta)oli' (oisons used for water disinfe'tion% If ha.ard analysis identifies the (otential for the (resen'e of these (arasites, treatment with (ero2ya'eti' a'id or o.onation of sour'e water would )e a suita)le 'ontrol measure% A 'om)ination of :5P and 'hemi'al indi'ator monitoring for o.one 'on'entrations would )e ne'essary%

A (ra'ti'al )enefit in fresh 'ut (ro'essing (lants is that the measured :5P values a''urately define the antimi'ro)ial (otential of the water for free+floating mi'ro)es% Hore 'onventional systems of measuring (arts (er million ,((m- with titration *its or (a(er test stri(s 'an give the same information )ut these must )e 'om)ined with a measurement of water (9 and referen'ed to a ta)le of hy(o'hlorous a'id ,9:8lavaila)ility% The water (9 )e'omes an essential varia)le sin'e the 'olor+)ased test *its and (a(er stri(s dete't hy(o'hlorous a'id and hy(o'hlorite ion e/ually% 5e'ent resear'h in 'ommer'ial and model fresh 'ut (ro'ess water systems has shown that, if ne'essary, :5P limits 'an )e relied on to determine mi'ro)ial *ill (otential a'ross a )road range of water /uality% It is im(ortant to (oint out that monitoring the )uild+u( of inorgani' and organi' (arti'les remains im(ortant to (revent the e2'essive a((li'ation of 'hlorine or other disinfe'tants to maintain a 'onstant :5P set (oint% This ma*es sense from a 'ost, sensory /uality and safety (ers(e'tive% In re'ir'ulating systems, e2'essive in1e'tion of sodium hy(o'holrite 'an 'ause salt in1ury on sensitive (rodu'ts ,for e2am(le some a((le varieties are very sensitive to sodium in1ury-% In water with high levels of amino a'ids from 'utting wounds, the formation of nitrogen+)ased disinfe'tion+)y+(rodu'ts may )e an environmental or health ha.ard and a restri'ted wastewater dis(osal issue% Disadvantages of ORP Systems Potential disadvantages of :5P+)ased systems are largely o(erational issues related to routine e/ui(ment maintenan'e, 'ali)ration, and 'ross'he'*ing of fi2ed (osition sensors% In (ra'ti'al terms, always have a )a'*+u( system of 'ali)rated hand+ held :5P (ro)es and standard ((m *its% Sensors )e'ome fouled and need (eriodi' 'leaning and 'ali)ration% :5P (ro)es may )e'ome tem(orarily saturated )y over+ in1e'tion of disinfe'tant% It 'an ta*e several minutes or longer for the sensor to 'ome )a'* to e/uili)rium with the surrounding water, whi'h 'an limit the res(onse time% It is im(ortant to use :5P as a JwindowK of o(eration rather than a fi2ed (oint% Sensors rarely esta)lish a fi2ed (oint in a real system% The L)oun'eK o)served in the sensor readout may )e as mu'h as "< m4, es(e'ially in hand held units, de(ending on whether the (ro)e is stationary or in movement% The )est a((roa'h is to standardi.e a uniform method for ta*ing measurements and set thresholds for a window of o(eration that a'hieves the mi'ro)ial redu'tion o)1e'tives a((ro(riate for the o(eration% ORP and Ozone In a 'lean water system, using :5P to measure the dissolved o.one status wor*s well% In our e2(erien'e, however, the strong o2idi.ing (ower of o.one in 'om(le2 ,even moderate tur)idity- systems 'an result in :5P values far )elow e2(e'ted and even negative ,redu'ing- values% In general, monitoring o.one with :5P at the generator sour'e wor*s well )ut measuring wash water )e'omes unrelia)le% :.one dete'tion *its are availa)le and wor* well at the limit of a((roved 'on'entrations for fresh 'ut fa'ilities%

ORP, pH, and ppm The routine measurement of :5P in millivolts is not a linear relation at ty(i'al use rates in the fresh 'ut industry% In general, a ten+fold in'rease in total or free 'hlorine 'on'entrations will not result in a 'orres(onding (ro(ortional in'rease in millivolts% This is (redominantly a familiarity and 'omfort issue rather than one whi'h im(a'ts safety standards% For very 'lean water, ? to < ((m free 'hlorine will (rovide more than ade/uate mi'ro)ial 'ontrol for free+floating )a'teria in a very short 'onta't time% This water /uality will li*ely result in measurements of =<#+;## m4 :5P if the water (9 is =%< to ;% &owering the (9 to =%# will raise the :5P as more hy(o'hlorous a'id )e'omes availa)le% 5aising the (9 to >%# will lower the :5P value as more hy(o'hlorite ion is (resent% Haintaining 'onstant (9 )ut adding more 'hlorine will raise the :5P to a (lateau of @## to @<# m4, generally around "< ((m free 'hlorine% Dou)ling the free 'hlorine will not result in a si.ea)le gain in :5P and may result in undesira)le disinfe'tion+)y+(rodu'ts, (rodu't damage, and flavor tainting% For most fresh 'ut (ro'essing systems, it is unne'essary to o(erate a)ove >## m4, a set (oint used in (rimary wash and 'ooling systems where high 'on'entrations of wound e2udates are released to the water%

8on'lusions An effe'tive wash water sanitation system is )e'oming a ne'essity in the (rodu'e industry due to in'reased 'on'erns with the safety of fresh fruits and vegeta)les% Sin'e water 'an )e a sour'e of 'ontamination of (rodu'e should the water itself )e'ome 'ontaminated, the a)ility to insure the 'leanliness of the water is an essential element of a food safety (rogram% 3nderstanding how different saniti.ers wor* and how they are measured and monitored is an im(ortant element in o(erating the food safety system in an effe'tive and 'ost effi'ient manner%

REFERENCES Code of !ederal "eg#lations$ %itle &'$ ol#me ($ Part ')(.('* +,econdary -irect !ood Additives Permitted in !ood for H#man Cons#mption. !resh C#t. .ov /0. Food Safety: Biocidal Efficacy of Ozone in Processing. !resh C#t. 1#ly /0. Sanitation: An Overview of Ozone.

!resh C#t. May /0. Sanitation: Keeping Produce Was Water !lean. !resh C#t. March /0. "etter to t e Editor# $FPA President %efends ! lorine &se. !resh C#t. -ec /0. 'ec nology: Ozone: Safety !onsiderations. !ood Processing. 1an //. Beyond ! lorine$ pgs. *0234. !ood %echnology Monitor. ol )$ .o. /$ 1#ne /). (ypoc lorite Alternatives$ pg. 5. htt(:77'lo"a((s%'om7usdaregs%html 2 Chlorine -ioxide htt(:77vm%'fsan%fda%gov7Mlrd76"6;fda%html 2 Ozone htt(:77www%shareholder%'om7e'ola)7news7#<";@>g%htm 26cola78%s#nami Pac9er8,hipper. -ecem7er /). Ozone Approved For Food !ontact. Prod#ce %echnology Monitor. April /0$ ol. 0$ .o. ). (ydrogen Pero)ide: Fres Produce %isinfectant. pgs. (. Prod#ce %echnology Monitor. A#g#st /'$ ol '$ .o. ''. ! lorine in Processing Water. Prod#ce %echnology Monitor. ,eptem7er '//0$ ol 0$ .o. '&. Was ing Fres cut Produce* pg.5. Hand7oo9 of Chlorination and Alternative -isinfectants ( rd 6dition. :eo. Clifford ;hite. '//&. an .ostrand "einhold$ .<. '(4* pp =>,B. 4255&2443/(25?

Table ! RE"#$%T&ONS FOR '%SH '%TER D&S&NFECT%NTS

()onside*ed Se)onda*y Food %dditives by FD%+
According to 21CFR 173.315 Chemicals may be safely used to wash or to assist in the eeling of fruits and !egetables in accordance with the following conditions" '.? &.? ,#7stances generally recognized as safe in food or covered 7y prior sanctions for #se in washing fr#its and vegeta7les. ,#7stances listed 7elow and s#7@ect to the limitations provided.

%his list does not incl#de all s#7stances listed.

S,bstan)e
Hydrogen peroxideA

E-t*a $imitations
Used in com7ination with acetic acid to form peroxyacetic acid. Bimited to #se on fr#its and vegeta7les that are not raw agric#lt#ral commodities. Bimited to #se on fr#its and vegeta7les that are not raw agric#lt#ral commodities. .ot to contain more than 4.&C acrylamide monomer.

Con)ent*ation $imits
.ot to exceed */ ppm in wash water.

Final Rinse Re.,i*ed/

.ot when #sed with the extra limitations. .ot when #sed with the extra limitations. .o .o .o

Peroxyacetic acid Polyacrylamide Potassi#m 7romide ,odi#m hypochlorite

.ot to exceed 04 ppm in wash water. .ot to exceed '4 ppm in wash water. .ot to exceed 4.&C in wash water. .ot to exceed 4.&C ppm in wash water.

AHydrogen peroxide =food grade D#ality? is :"A, for #se as a 7leaching$ oxidizing$ red#cing and anti2micro7ial agent in food prod#cts. U,-A scientists have tested the effectiveness of H &4& on prod#ce with a range of *C 2 '4C H&O& for (4 sec to * min. Pres#ma7ly accepta7le alternative 7ased on '/*0 Amendment to !-EC Act. ;hen #sed in this manner there m#st 7e a final rinse.

Other ,#7stances approved 7y the !-A

S,bstan)e
Ozone

%pp*oval
:"A, stat#s in '//) for food ind#stry. !-A Approval in May '//0 !-A Approval in Oct '//0

$imitations
;or9er expos#re levels m#st not exceed 4.' ppm averaged over a 542 ho#r wor9 wee9 and the short term expos#re limit is 4.( ppm over '* min#tes twice per 02ho#r day. =set 7y O,HA?

Con)ent*ation

Final Rinse Re.,i*ed/

%s#nami =6cola7Fs? Chlorine -ioxide

' ppm for 3 min. of .o. prod#ct expos#re. & ppm for ( min. of prod#ct expos#re. =these amo#nts are a g#ide$ not a limit? .ot to exceed *(( <es. ppm =04 ppm peroxyacetic acid?. (2* ppm activated with :"A, acid. .o.

%ABB6 &. AD4A0TAG!S A0D DISAD4A0TAG!S :F WAS9 WAT!5 DISI0F!8TA0TS S,bstan)e Advantages -isadvantages
Sodi,m Hypo)0lo*ite (C0lo*ine+ 1!23 ppm (typi)ally ,sed at 211ppm o* less+ Chlorine #io$ide =;: ppm % ve*y st*ong o-idizing agent Does not *ea)t as *eadily as )0lo*ine on o*gani) )ompo,nds! 'ill maintain mo*e of a ba)te*i)idal a)tivity in di*ty 5ate* t0an sodi,m 0ypo)0lo*ite $ess sensitive to pH t0an sodi,m 0ypo)0lo*ite! 'ill pe*fo*m 5ell at pH *anges f*om 7!1 to 1!1 Hig0 sol,bility in )old 5ate* Effe)tive in *ed,)ing )olifo*m and ot0e* food spoilage o*ganisms Cont*olled by an a,tomati) p,mp system Claims to 0ave an imp*oved mi)*obial 4ill and imp*oved s0elf life on some p*od,)e Only lasts 1 >21 min,tes, so t0e *is4 of ozone ingestion to t0e )ons,me* is eliminated Effe)tive in 4illing mi)*obial )ontaminates Pe*fo*ms 5ell in filte*ed o* *e;)i*),lating systems sin)e ozone )oag,lates o*gani) matte* and ma4es it easie* to *emove by filt*ation! T0e pH *ange is 7!1 > 8!1 fo* optimal pe*fo*man)e %s effe)tive as )0lo*ine a))o*ding to #SD% s)ientists on t0e *ed,)tion of mi)*obial loads of p*od,)e s,*fa)es (abo,t @13 *ed,)tion of initial pop,lation+ Effe)tive in *ed,)ing ba)te*ial load on f*es0 > ),t ),),mbe*, g*een bell peppe* and z,))0ini Fast %)ting Effe)tively 4ills ba)te*ia, yeasts, f,ngal spo*es, mold, milde5 and many vi*,ses 6e*y )ost effe)tive S0elf life of 7 mont0s Dissipates .,i)4ly 50en e-posed to ai* o* 0ig0 temp! ( 819 F+ Hig0ly )o**osive to pipes and damaging to *,bbe* gas4ets &s *eadily ne,t*alized by an o*gani) load! Can )*eate f,mes t0at )an pose 0aza*ds to 5o*4e*s! Sensitive to pH! Optimal *ange is 7!: ; <!1 On site gene*ation

%sunami Not to e-)eed :== ppm (81 ppm pe*o-ya)eti) a)id+ &'one ;2 ppm

Costs :1 > 113 mo*e t0an )0lo*ine % )o**osive )0emi)al on 0eavy metals (i*on, )oppe*, )0*omi,m+

St,dies on its effe)tiveness a*e still in p*og*ess ?o*e e-pensive t0an )0lo*ine St*i)t *eg,lations fo* e-pos,*e of ozone to 5o*4e*s

(ydrogen )ero$ide (food g*ade+ Not to e-)eed :@ ppm

H212 *esid,es m,st be *emoved 5it0 a final *inse, even t0o,g0 no *esid,es 5e*e s0o5n to *emain Not effe)tive in *ed,)ing ba)te*ial load on f*es0 > ),t b*o))oli, )a**ot, )a,liflo5e* o* )ele*y $a*ge amo,nt of foam )an be p*od,)ed Ca,ses seve*e b*o5ning in s0*edded lett,)e