Reaching where cleaning struggles: improving microbiological quality in meat processing with targeted antimicrobial blue light
A Nordic meat processor achieved approximately 2-log lower total bacterial counts and 4-log lower Enterobacteriaceae levels at the ready-to-eat meat product use-by date after introducing Spectral Blue MWHI® antimicrobial blue light to treat difficult-to-clean areas inside processing equipment.
The challenge: microbial control inside processing equipment
Maintaining microbiological control inside complex food-processing equipment can be challenging. Internal surfaces and other areas that are difficult to access during routine cleaning can provide locations where microorganisms survive and potentially re-contaminate products during production.
Research has demonstrated that persistent microorganisms can survive cleaning and disinfection in food-processing environments and establish themselves in difficult-to-clean areas of processing equipment. Studies have identified equipment such as conveyors, slicers and other machinery as potential sources of persistent contamination.
A Nordic meat-processing company was experiencing occasional elevated total bacterial counts and Enterobacteriaceae levels in ready-to-eat meat products at their use-by date. Difficult-to-clean internal areas such as screwheads of processing equipment were identified as an area where additional microbial control could be beneficial.
Targeting a difficult-to-clean area
A Spectral Blue device was positioned outside the processing machine and directed through an opening towards internal surfaces requiring additional microbial control.
Spectral Blue MWHI® uses antimicrobial blue light to reduce microorganisms on illuminated surfaces. In this application, the ability to position the device and direct the light into the machine allowed the treatment to be focused specifically on the problematic area, complementing the company's existing cleaning and hygiene procedures.
Illustration of the installation principle. A Spectral Blue device is positioned to direct antimicrobial blue light onto difficult-to-clean internal surfaces of the processing equipment.
Clear improvement in microbiological quality
Following the introduction of Spectral Blue MWHI® treatment, the company observed a substantial improvement in the microbiological quality of products at their use-by date.
- Total bacterial count: approximately 2-log reduction
- Enterobacteriaceae: approximately 4-log reduction
Before the introduction of MWHI® treatment, products had occasionally shown high total bacterial counts and Enterobacteriaceae levels at the use-by date. Following treatment, both were substantially reduced, improving microbiological quality throughout the intended product life.
"After MWHI® blue-light treatment, total bacteria decreased by approximately 2 log and Enterobacteriaceae by about 4 log, improving the microbiological quality of the products all the way to their use-by date."
- Nordic meat-processing company
From microbial control to production efficiency
The results could have implications beyond microbiological quality.
Improved and more consistent microbiological quality could potentially enable production to be organized into larger batches produced less frequently. For example, shifting from three smaller weekly batches to two larger batches may improve capacity utilization while reducing production start-ups, cleaning requirements, and product waste.
Such changes could contribute to operational cost savings and efficiency improvements. Further evaluation would be required to determine whether these potential benefits can be realized and quantified in practice.
Addressing microbial hotspots in food production
Difficult-to-clean equipment is a recognized challenge throughout food processing. Research has shown that microorganisms can persist in processing machinery despite established cleaning and disinfection procedures, particularly where equipment geometry or surface characteristics create microbial harborage sites.
Targeted antimicrobial blue light provides an additional tool for these situations. By directing the light at identified microbial hotspots, Spectral Blue MWHI® can complement established hygiene procedures without introducing additional chemicals or residues.
Potential applications include conveyors, slicers, dicers, graders, filling equipment, packaging equipment and other machinery with internal surfaces that are difficult to keep microbiologically controlled.
Do you have a difficult-to-clean microbial problem area?
Talk to our team about how Spectral Blue MWHI® antimicrobial blue light could complement your existing hygiene procedures and provide continuous or targeted microbial control.
