March 9, 2007

US company tests its food-safety technology at poultry plants

Tasker Products Corp. a distributor and marketer of technology to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, has scheduled is testing its Tasker Blue application at several leading poultry processors in the country, which are expected to be completed over the coming months.

Tasker Blue has been in use at two poultry processing plants since it received consent by the USDA to market its product for use in the scalder and picker intervention points.

Heightened concerns about bacteria prevalence in processed foods such as poultry and beef, have been exacerbated by outbreaks in foodborne illnesses over the last six months, states a company news release.

USDA recently announced its plans to implement an inspection programme focused on facilities that produce food vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections, especially on foods that can have high rates of E. coli and Salmonella.

This program is scheduled to begin in April of this year in 254 plants, expanding to 1,300 by year end 2007, and to 5,300 in 2008.