Low-pH FreshFx(R) Safely Kills Pathogens and Saves Water in Poultry Processing Plants: Particularly Important in Drought-Stricken Southeastern U.S.

SHREVEPORT, La., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- FreshFx(R) Antimicrobial Solutions are safe, effective and environmentally sound weapons against pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, and Listeria. Poultry processing plants look to FreshFx to:

    --  Provide water savings with each additional antimicrobial intervention
        by reuse
    --  Improve product quality by reducing microbial contamination
    --  Alleviate plant safety concerns because solutions are safe and
        non-toxic

FreshFx solutions are GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) compounds, and are most effective and economical when reused throughout the poultry processing line, says Dr. John R. Dankert, Ph.D., CEO of SteriFx Inc., manufacturer of FreshFx pathogen control products.

"Plants using FreshFx for on-line reprocessing (OLR) have seen the benefits of reuse," he says. "The run-off from the OLR cabinet, after it has treated the carcasses, retains its efficacy - no additional antimicrobial needs to be added to it to reduce microbes, and it can be used directly for reuse.

"Not only can the plant save this volume of water, for example, by using it in the NY rinse cabinet, it also reduces pathogens at this earlier processing step," adds Dankert. "We have many plants that reuse FreshFx many times - from OLR to NY rinse to pickers to scalder - and for each reuse the plant saves water and adds an additional pathogen control intervention step, providing a double benefit to the customer. These water conservation benefits are always important, but are especially critical for plants operating in the Southeastern U.S., where a persistent drought threatens water supplies."

In addition, FreshFx can be used to acidify processing waters anywhere chlorine is used to enhance the microbial killing power of chlorine.

"The very low pH of FreshFx, or reused FreshFx, can be used to kill pathogens directly, but even when diluted it can help chlorine kill pathogens," says Dr. Bruce W. Downs, Ph.D., COO of SteriFx Inc. "Even diluted thousands of times, FreshFx has been proven to increase the oxidation- reduction potential (ORP) of chlorinated waters - again saving water through reuse and helping the plant control pathogens wherever chlorine is used."

What's more, FreshFx is pre-mixed, which allows for a more consistent, and economical, pH control in areas like the chiller. Accidents that produce off- gassing are much less likely to occur using pre-mixed FreshFx for pH control.

"Since FreshFx is much more potent than other solutions in its ability to lower pH, we can provide for acidification at a lower cost and with more uniformity," says Dankert. "This has greater importance for processing plants because new regulations require that they consistently maintain pathogen control. So using FreshFx removes a source of inconsistency and saves labor in that no mixing or dissolving of powders before use is required."

About SteriFx

SteriFx Inc. provides pathogen control systems dedicated to reducing or eliminating pathogens for food safety, consumer, healthcare and defense markets. The patented formulations offer a safe and revolutionary process for pathogen elimination for the food industry.

Last October, the USDA/FSIS approved FreshFx L-12, the latest low- phosphate solution in the SteriFx family of products. For more about SteriFx Inc. or FreshFx antimicrobial solutions, please visit http://www.sterifx.com or send inquiries to info@sterifx.com .

     John Dankert, Ph.D.                    Bruce Downs, Ph.D.
     SteriFx Inc.                           SteriFx Inc.

318-425-2515; jdankert@sterifx.com 318-425-2515; bdowns@sterifx.com