Alcide Corporation's SANOVA Antimicrobial Receives Approval For Control of Bacteria, Mold, Yeast and Viruses On Fruit and Vegetables
Previously, in September, 1999, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved SANOVA® as a direct food additive for controlling pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria and Salmonella on fruits and vegetables. The combined EPA and FDA approvals now enable Alcide Food Safety to commercialize SANOVA® in the U.S. produce industry.
By controlling microorganisms on the surfaces of fruits and vegetables, SANOVA® both improves food safety and also, in many cases, can retard spoilage -- lengthen shelf life of fresh produce products.
During the next half year the Alcide Food Safety team will develop efficient application methods unique to each produce type and will conduct validation trials under commercial conditions as a preface to commercial introduction beginning late summer.
SANOVA® is now the most broadly approved antimicrobial intervention for enhancing food quality and safety. The product has been used in the U.S. poultry industry for the past three years. The 27 plants now using the SANOVA® System disinfect more than 4.6 billion pounds of chicken on an annual basis. Earlier this year Alcide Food Safety began introduction of SANOVA® to the red meat industries to control harmful microorganisms on the surface of red meat carcasses and also, importantly, on parts and trim used to produce ground meat products.
Joseph A. Sasenick, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, ``We are very excited by this latest approval, which is further testimony to the antimicrobial performance and safety of SANOVA®. We developed SANOVA® to address the growing concerns about food safety and to provide the food industries with a safe, easy to use and effective means for enhancing the quality of their products. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that approximately 76 million people each year suffer illnesses caused by food borne pathogens and that the illnesses may result in as many as 5,000 deaths a year. SANOVA® helps industry address this health issue.''
Future regulatory approvals followed by market entry are expected to broaden the use of SANOVA® in the produce industry to the rapidly growing fresh cut/value added sector of the market, in the poultry industry for cut up/deboned product and in the red meat industry for sausages.
Alcide Corporation develops and markets unique biocidal products based on its patented technology. The Company sells anti-infective products to the animal health market, disinfecting products to the medical industries, and SANOVA® for controlling food borne pathogens.
This report includes forward looking statements which involve risk and uncertainty including, without limitation, risk of dependence on third party suppliers, market acceptance of and demand for the Company's products, distribution capabilities and development of technology and regulatory approval thereof.
SOURCE: Alcide Corporation