WAGENINGEN, The NetherlandsThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have approved Micreos SALMONELEX as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for use as an antimicrobial food-processing aid against Salmonella.
SALMONELEX, which consists of natural phages against Salmonella that eliminate the bacteria rather than inhibit its growth, can be sprayed topically or added to chill tank water. According to the company, the solution targets only Salmonella and has no other effect on the treated food product, neither in taste, nor texture.
Micreos anticipates that it will soon be listed by the Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic foods, just like its phage product against Listeria, LISTEX. The company said industrial-scale projects with U.S. poultry processors will begin in January 2014.
Research has shown that SALMONELEX does not dissipate in the presence of protein. Thus, the product enables processors to reduce the use of chemicals and reach Salmonella in places where antimicrobial chemicals are ineffective, for example in follicles that close when exposed to cold water in a chiller," said Dirk de Meester, business development manager for Micreos.