Airborne contamination in the food industry : An update on monitoring and disinfection techniques of air
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2019
Citazione:
Airborne contamination in the food industry : An update on monitoring and disinfection techniques of air / F. Masotti, S. Cattaneo, M. Stuknytė, I. De Noni. - In: TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. - ISSN 0924-2244. - 90(2019 Aug), pp. 147-156. [10.1016/j.tifs.2019.06.006]
Abstract:
Background: hygienic and safe production is a high priority in the food industry. During processing, food may be
subjected to bio-contamination. Accordingly, preservation of overall quality by keeping a clean environment is a
goal to pursue. Among microbial vectors, air is considered a contributing factor to cross-contamination.
Scope and approach: nowadays, in food plants emphasis is paid to the assessment of air bioload in view of
prevention of recontamination. Normally, air entering a processing plant is chilled and filtered to remove un-
desired microorganisms from outside. Nevertheless, apart from clean-room environments, uncontrolled factors
(processes, personnel, structures, etc.) contribute to the release of microorganisms in indoor environments, re-
sulting in generation of bioaerosols highly variable within and among plants, and on a daily basis within the
same plant.
Key findings and conclusions: this review focuses on the relevance of bioaerosol monitoring in the food industry,
providing an update of air sampling techniques and methods of analysis in view to strengthen preventive hy-
gienic actions. Disinfection procedures to minimize microbial counts in the air as additional safeguard to the
standard chemical sanitation protocols are reviewed. Benefits and limitations of air treatment by chemical
fogging, ozonation, uv irradiation or cold plasma are outlined. Air bioload monitoring and the implementation of
subsequent air disinfection procedures are a feasible and a routinely exploitable strategy to satisfy hygienic
requirements in food plants. Further research is required to face technical challenges and optimize the feasibility
of some disinfection technologies for the real-world of food environments.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
bioaerosol; air monitoring; chemical fogging; Gaseous ozonation; UV irradiation
Elenco autori:
F. Masotti, S. Cattaneo, M. Stuknytė, I. De Noni
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