A smooth supply chain is crucial for the timely delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables, because between the harvest of the product to be marketed and the actual purchase at the point of sale, there is a risk that the goods will lose quality. Because of this, the goods are usually harvested in top condition and then cleaned, sorted, temporarily stored and dispatched within a very short time. The faster and more carefully these steps are carried out, the higher the final quality of the fresh produce.
Immediately after harvest, the risk of quality loss is highest, he said, because fresh fruits and vegetables have been shown to be the most commonly contaminated during processing. "This happens either due to a pathogen in the respective processing or sorting line or due to cross-contamination. Consequently, washing the produce is a crucial step during the process, because it is important that dirt and possible pathogens are removed before the inner values of the fresh product are contaminated accordingly," says Christian Eidam, contact person at cleaning expert Menno Chemie.
Torsten Scherweit and Christian Eidam from Menno Chemie
However, water is also a frequent carrier for fungi and pathogens. To avoid actual infestation accordingly, both the processing equipment and the water supply itself must be carefully disinfected. Several aspects must be considered, Eidam continues. "First and foremost, the effectiveness of the chosen disinfectant against the pathogens in question is important. It is not uncommon to mistakenly believe that all disinfectants have a lethal effect anyway, but this is simply false. For example, a disinfectant may kill Pseudomonas bacteria but not be effective against fungal spores."
The usual suspects in terms of quality loss during the supply chain include the bacteria Mucor, Verticillium, Rhizopus, Botrytis and Alternaria. These are predominantly resistant fungi and their spores in particular. Eidam: "The decisive factor for the effectiveness of the respective disinfectant is therefore that the treated water penetrates the spores accordingly. However, this process takes a certain amount of time, during which the active ingredient must remain stable. Accordingly, it is recommended that the user inquire with us, meaning the manufacturer, about the application conditions."
Fadex and A-QUASAN: Modern processes for successful disinfection
To avoid the risk of residues on the treated surface, biodegradable disinfectants are particularly recommended, according to Eidam. In recent years, Menno Chemie has devoted itself in particular to the development of customized disinfection solutions for the fruit sector and now offers two modern processes. FADEX H+ is designed to remove difficult residues such as plant juices and pesticides and to significantly extend the service life of plant equipment. The process is certified organic.
A-QUASAN is suitable for post-harvest treatment. The benzoic acid-based process is said to control human pathogens and more than 30 species of fungi. In addition, he said, the agent remains extremely stable for up to 16 hours, which is why fungal spores that exhibit high resistance can also be eliminated without leaving any relevant residues. Eidam: "Last spring, the product was launched in Spain and the interest so far has been tremendous. We are finding that A-Quasan is being used in all areas of the food sector, from fresh processing to warehouses, cold storage and greenhouse facilities."
Visit the company at Fruit Attraction in Madrid: booth 8E10G.
For more information:
Christian Eidam
Menno Chemie GmbH & Co KG.
Langer Kamp 104
D-22850 Norderstedt
T: +49 40-529 06 67-0
F: +49 40-529 06 67 66
E: [email protected]
www.menno.de