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EPA approved antimicrobial
could control listeria in food plants
By Jane Byrne - 01-Jul-2008
A phage-based decontaminant has been sanctioned by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US for use as
antimicrobial against Listeria monocytogenes in food processing
plants, says its developers.
Intralytix, a biotechnology firm, said that its novel food
safety product, LMP-102 has already received approval from the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food additive effective
against Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat foods. John
Vazzana, chief executive officer of Intralytix, told
FoodProductionDaily.com that the EPA registration now
enables food manufacturers to use LMP-102 on food processing
equipment as well as on ready-to-eat food products.
Listeriosis is a rare but potentially lethal infection that
can kill vulnerable people, such as the elderly and pregnant
women, as well as those suffering from immuno-compromising
diseases like cancer or HIV.
According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), 2,500 people are estimated to be seriously ill with
listeriosis each year with about 500 of that total dying. Most
cases of the infection are caused by the consumption of
ready-to-eat foods, which support growth of the bacteria.
Spray application
Vazzana claims that the antimicrobial agent can be sprayed
onto equipment and food produce such as coleslaw, unpasteurized
cheese, pasteurized milk, delicatessen and other types of meat
products.
"As LMP-102 is an all natural product it will not corrode or
damage equipment nor alter a food product's general composition,
taste, odour or colour," said Vazzana.
Expansion
Vazzana said that that LMP-102 is more costly than some
chemicals but that it is competitively priced in comparison to
other types of anti-microbial interventions.
The phage-based product has already been put on the market in
the US but Intralytix intends to expand into other markets,
Vazzana said.
"We plan to initiate regulatory approval in the EU in the
next two months with the help of a European customer, who will
use LMP-102 on products being shipped to the US," he said.
Prevention efforts
Meanwhile, a recent report from FoodNet, a surveillance
network of the CDC, claims that the numbers of foodborne
infections in the US have stagnated after a period of decline,
indicating the need for further prevention efforts.
The study shows outbreaks of campylobacter, listeria,
salmonella, shigella, E.coli O157, vibrio, and yersinia "did not
decline significantly."
"The results show that prevention efforts have been partly
successful, but there has been little further progress in the
most recent years," said Dr Robert Tauxe, deputy director of
CDC′s division of foodborne, bacterial and mycotic diseases.
"More needs to be done to make our food safer." |
