Company says recent EFSA report reinforces the benefits its Citrocide Fresh-Cut System disinfection model
Spanish postharvest specialist Citrosol says its Citrocide Fresh-Cut System complies with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations on the importance of monitoring and managing disinfectant concentrations within appropriate operating limits to mitigate microbiological risk in wash water in the fresh-cut food industry.
EFSA experts have highlighted the need to maintain rigorous control over disinfectant concentrations during the postharvest washing process for minimally processed fruits and vegetables.
Citrosol says Citrocide’s continuous monitoring and automatic control ensures that peracetic acid (PAA) concentrations are always maintained within appropriate operational limits, thus minimising microbiological contamination.
It allows for continuous, real-time measurement of disinfectant concentrations in water through an integrated sensor, ensuring that product levels are always maintained within an optimal range. Furthermore, the system measures and records the water used to refresh the process.
“With all the data recorded and analysed, the effectiveness of the disinfection process and its complete traceability are guaranteed,” Citrosol said. “Furthermore, integrating the Citrocide Fresh-Cut System into the CitroFy platform also enables remote monitoring and assistance of the disinfection process.”
The company pointed out that Citrocide, the PAA-based biocide formulated by the system, does not require pH control, since PAA is effective within a wide pH and temperature range.
Moreoever, it does not generate disinfection byproducts that could be potentially hazardous to people or the environment, and it is fully compliant with European and US legislation. Citrocide is certified organic, as the formulation is certified as an input for organic farming (BIO) according to EU and US standards.
“This combination of automation, safety, and robustness makes the Citrocide Fresh-Cut System an efficient and sustainable solution for maintaining the hygienic conditions of fresh-cut fruit and vegetable washing water,” Citrosol concluded.
