USDA approves Alcide Corp.'s SANOVA antimicrobial
In publishing its approval the agencies concluded that the proposed use of SANOVA is "safe, and the additive will have the intended technical effect" of reducing microbial contamination on these meat products.
During the past few years there have been several major outbreaks of food borne illness caused by contamination of hot dogs and other ready-to-eat meat products with Listeria monocytogenes. While Listeria contamination is rare and reportedly accounts for less than 1% of all food borne illness, when it does occur it can be deadly and may account for as much as 28% of the deaths associated with pathogenic bacteria on food. SANOVA provides industry with a potent tool to address this threat.
During the next few weeks Alcide will initiate process validation and optimization trials in a commercial plant environment to document SANOVA performance in a highly automated environment. Assuming successful completion of the validation and optimization trials, the Company expects to begin offering SANOVA for sale for use on ready-to-eat sausages and comminuted meat products later this 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 and is now in use in 30 plants to disinfect more than five billion pounds of chicken on an annual basis. Earlier this year Alcide Food Safety began the 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. Most recently, in March, the Company received approval for the use of SANOVA on intact raw agricultural commodities (fruits and vegetables) in processing plants.
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