Effects of Materials Containing Antimicrobial Compounds on Food Hygiene

Abstract

Surfaces with microorganisms may transfer unwanted microorganisms to food through cross-contamination during processing and preparation. A high hygienic status of surfaces that come in contact with food is important in order to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. During the last decade, products containing antimicrobial compounds, such as cutting boards, knives, countertops, kitchen utensils, refrigerators, and conveyor belts, have been introduced to the market, claiming hygienic effects. Such products are often referred to as "treated articles." Here we review various aspects related to treated articles intended for use during preparation and processing of food. Regulatory issues and methods to assess antibacterial effects are covered. Different concepts for treated articles as well as their antibacterial activity are reviewed. The effects of products with antimicrobials on food hygiene and safety are discussed.

The Use and Performance of Household Refrigerators: A Review

“…Antibacterial linings, incorporating triclosan and various forms of silver, have been used in commercially available refrigerators (Kampmann and others ; Møretrø and Langsrud ). Such technologies are usually marketed as beneficial for improving the storage life of food and reducing waste.…”

Development of antimicrobial stainless steel via surface modification with N‐halamines: Characterization of surface chemistry and N‐halamine chlorination

“…There is also a substantial potential for economic losses due to the proliferation of spoilage microorganisms and resulting product loss. Further, some microorganisms are able to form stable communities called biofilms, which increases their resistance to traditional cleaning and sanitization methods 3–5…”

“…N‐halamine functionalized materials have been developed for a range of applications such as biocides in swimming pools and spas, disinfectants in water filtration systems, disinfectants of recreation water, and so on 15. They have also been incorporated in fabrics to be used in the production of different types of clothes 4–16. Both soluble and insoluble N‐halamines have been developed with demonstrated activity against microorganisms, and both bulk and surface modification techniques have been employed to impart N‐halamine activity to materials 14, 16–19.…”

Antimicrobial activity of metal cation‐exchanged zeolites and their evaluation on injection‐molded pieces of bio‐based high‐density polyethylene

“…This method is designed to evaluate the efficiency against bacteria on the surface of finished products, including polymer composites (Fages, Pascual, Fenollar, García-Sanoguera, & Balart, 2011). Indeed, this is a common method in hygiene applications (Møretrø & Langsrud, 2011). Count of each bacterial colony was compared on inoculated TSA plates containing the injection-molded pieces, that is, the test samples, with a control sample with no piece.…”

“…The growth of spoilage microorganisms cannot only reduce food shelf life, but the spread of pathogenic microorganisms endangers public health. Materials containing antimicrobials, also referred as “treated” materials, have been recently introduced to the food sector as a new concept to improve hygiene (Møretrø & Langsrud, ). Active‐releasing antimicrobial systems can be generated by different ways such as the application of coatings or compounds absorbed on the material surface, the employ of volatile and nonvolatile substances directly incorporated into the plastic parts, the immobilization onto polymer matrices by ion or covalent linkages, and the use of materials that are inherently antimicrobial (Appendini & Hotchkiss, ).…”