Pulsed Xenon light disinfection performance in food processing environments

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The prevention of food borne illness due to contamination by pathogens is an ongoing concern. Although food processing equipment is routinely cleaned and disinfected, it is possible to miss certain spots and this allows for possible contamination. Germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light has been studied for use in disinfecting food products in the past, with promising results. However, a new UV technology called Pulsed Xenon (PX) flash lamps has received much less attention. PX technologies have certain potential advantages, such as more compact shapes, high power output, and the lack of mercury that traditional UV lamps use. The partner organization, Solaris Disinfection Ltd., has developed PX disinfection systems that are currently used in hospitals for pathogen control, and it is their desire that the potential application in food processing environments be studied in detail for product development and refinement.Therefore, this project will examine the efficacy of the PX system under conditions simulating those in food processing, such as in the presence of water and organic soiling materials. Studies on the mechanisms of disinfection, as well as the factors that impact it, will provide the partner with the scientific basis to modify their designs if necessary, and to apply them in the food processing industry. It is believed that the application of PX systems in food processing will help to reduce or eliminate potential contamination by equipment surfaces, thus further improving Canadian food safety.