The food industry is one of the most regulated industries in the world. The main responsibility of the food industry is to deliver safe and hygienic food products to the consumers. With the growing demand for quality food, food production, processing, and packaging companies are looking for innovative and cost-effective ways to maintain food quality and enhance food safety. Electrolyzed water (EW) is one such technology that has emerged as a novel broad-spectrum sanitizer in the food industry.
Electrolyzed Water (EW)
EW is a disinfectant agent that can be produced using tap water, salt, and electricity. EW is obtained through the electrolysis process, which involves passing a low-voltage current through a saltwater solution. This process results in the production of two types of solutions: an anode solution (hypochlorous acid) and a cathode solution (sodium hydroxide).
The anode solution, hypochlorous acid, is a powerful and effective disinfectant agent. It is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Moreover, hypochlorous acid is safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. It does not leave any harmful residues or byproducts, making it an ideal disinfectant for the food industry.
Advantages of EW in the Food Industry
EW has several advantages over traditional sanitizers and cleaning systems used in the food industry. Some of these advantages are:
Broad-Spectrum Sanitizer: EW is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It can be used to disinfect different surfaces, equipment, and food products.
Cost-Effective: EW can be produced on-site using tap water, salt, and electricity. This makes it a cost-effective disinfectant agent compared to traditional sanitizers.
Environmentally Friendly: EW is a sustainable and green concept. It does not produce any harmful residues or byproducts, making it environmentally friendly.
Non-Toxic: EW is safe and non-toxic, making it ideal for use in the food industry. It does not affect the taste, color, or odor of the food products.
Easy to Use: EW can be easily integrated into the existing cleaning systems in the food industry. It requires minimal training and does not require any specialized equipment.
Applications of EW in the Food Industry
EW has several applications in the food industry. Some of these applications are:
Food Production: EW can be used to disinfect surfaces, equipment, and tools used in food production.
Food Processing: EW can be used to disinfect food products before and after processing. It can also be used to disinfect processing equipment.
Packaging: EW can be used to disinfect packaging materials and containers used for storing and transporting food products.
Conclusion
Electrolyzed water (EW) has emerged as a novel broad-spectrum sanitizer in the food industry. EW is effective, safe, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective compared to traditional sanitizers. EW can be used in different applications, such as food production, processing, and packaging. With its numerous advantages, EW is the sanitizer of choice for the food industry.