SteriFx introduces new non-chlorine poultry processing alternative

Some relief for US poultry processors that wish to export their product to Russia: the newest antimicrobial solutions from SteriFx Inc. are an answer to the Russian ban on chlorine-rinsed poultry.

Its FreshFx line of antimicrobial solutions are all non-chlorine based, and have been in use for On-Line Reprocessing (OLR) and finishing chillers, as well as for applications throughout evisceration and secondary processing. In addition, SteriFx has added another product to replace chlorine in chillers and evisceration waters - ProtectFx.

ProtectFx is a peracetic acid (PAA) product that has an oxidising chemistry, which can replace chlorine in poultry processing and provide excellent pathogen control.

According to a 2008 Auburn University study, PAA was more effective than chlorine in decreasing salmonella  and campylobacter in poultry carcasses, and the PAA-treated birds showed an extended shelf-life as well.

SteriFx CEO John Dankert said that the company's peracetic acid product was developed to aid plants that could not use chlorine due to municipal water treatments that used ammonia, for OLR and salvage.

In addition, SteriFx de-chlorinates incoming water to the plant using chemical treatments as opposed to costly filter units. In most municipal water systems, even that level of chlorine is too high to pass Russian regulations. The US contends that chlorinated water is quite safe.

The antimicrobial products for OLR have been approved by the USDA, EPA and FDA.