Kemin Launches Cost-Effective Antimicrobial for Meat, Poultry

Kemin (Des Moines, IA) has launched BactoCEASE, a unique, propionic acid-based liquid antimicrobial designed especially for ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. The antimicrobial guards against Listeria monocytogenes.

As a foodborne pathogen, Listeria can be difficult to control in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products, the company says. Kemin says that BactoCEASE performs “more consistently” than traditional lactates at controlling Listeria in such products.

“Until now, meat manufacturers have only had one primary option for Listeria-lactates,” said William Schroeder, PhD, the firm’s director of research and development, food technologies division.

However, the company says, research has shown that lactates may perform inconsistently with deli-style meats. “For example, turkey treated with a combination of lactate-diacetate showed greater than 1 log increase in Listeria populations after four weeks in replication one, and after eight weeks in replication two,” the firm says. “On the other hand, multiple replications performed in turkey, ham, and roast beef showed BactoCEASE consistently inhibiting Listeria for an average of 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the meat application.”

The ingredient is also said to be a more economical choice because it is applied at a lower application rate, meaning less ingredient cost per pound of meat produced. It also shows operational benefits.

The company has also submitted a petition to USDA to list liquid sodium propionate as an acceptable antimicrobial agent for use in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. The company says that propionic acid, the active ingredient in sodium propionate, is already an ingredient used in various FDA-regulated food products, including tortillas in which its use is standard as an antimicrobial. It says USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service “has taken steps to expedite the rulemaking process for this important new technology.” Currently, it says, BactoCEASE is available for use commercially with an in-plant wavier. Once the commenting period is over for the petition, which was published in theFederal Register, BactoCEASE will be able to be used in all ready-to-eat meat and poultry products without an in-plant waiver.