A new study has indicated that food factory work surfaces coated in titanium are better than those of stainless steel, for they can cut the number of food poisoning cases every year.
In the food industry, work surfaces need to be easy to clean, but wear of food contact surfaces through abrasion, cleaning and impact damage increases the surface roughness, making it quite difficult to clean the surfaces.
About Salmonellosis
Poor hygienic practices during cooking or handling of food products can cause this distressing infection of the intestines leading to diarrhea, cramps and fever.
Poor hygienic practices during cooking or handling of food products can cause this distressing infection of the intestines leading to diarrhea, cramps and fever.
"It is important that surfaces in a hygienic environment are kept clean. Scratches may entrap micro-organisms such as Escherichia coli and protect them from being removed during cleaning. We measured scratches found on different surfaces and reproduced them in our lab. We coated the surfaces with titanium so that they all had the same chemistry and the only difference was the surface roughness," said Adele Packer from Manchester Metropolitan University.
The scientists examined how bacteria are retained after cleaning to surfaces with scratches, and discovered that the shape of the bacteria affected their retention
Diarrhea in Children - Introduction
Diarrhea disease in children is a common clinical illness in practice. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries.
Diarrhea disease in children is a common clinical illness in practice. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries.
"The results show that surface scratches retain bacteria well if they are of comparable size. The more tightly the bacteria fit in the scratches, the more difficult they are to remove during cleaning. Our findings also indicate that titanium coating may have a role in reducing the attachment of E. coli to food contact surfaces; E. coli cells attached to stainless steel much better than titanium," said Adele Packer.
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FDA Re-Emphasizes Warnings to Consumers on Risks of Pet Turtles
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urgently reminding the public that contact with baby turtles can pose a serious health risk to infants, small children, and adults.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urgently reminding the public that contact with baby turtles can pose a serious health risk to infants, small children, and adults.
The study was presented at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.
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Salmonella Scare Results in the Recall of Sesame Seed
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a warning to the public not to consume sesame seeds in and around Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia as it could be contaminated with salmonella.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a warning to the public not to consume sesame seeds in and around Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia as it could be contaminated with salmonella.
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