Rechargeable antimicrobial coatings for food processing: Can organic load be overcome?

 
The food processing industry is in need of additional weapons in the fight to maintain food safety and prevent food recalls. Anti-microbial coatings that are designed specifically to withstand the types of organic load and robust cleaning regimes found in the food industry, while maintaining rapid efficacy, is an area of unmet need and ongoing research. Floors, drains and conveyors have been identified as areas of concern to processors, and are suitable targets for coatings capable of killing microbes and preventing biofilm adhesion. Novel, `rechargeabl´, N-halamine based monomers and polymers capable of binding chlorine to a surface for residual efficacy show significant promise for use in the food & beverage processing industry. Rapid development iterations have resulted in additional enhancements to the monomers such that efficacy is sustained despite repeated organic soil challenges.