Hunt Valley Biotech Firm Fights Foodborne Pathogens

Hunt Valley, MD--In a report on a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation of a recent outbreak of Listeria from contaminated cantaloupes, KCNC-TV CBS4 News (Denver, CO) featured disinfectant products of the Hunt Valley biotechnology firm Sterilex as potentially life-saving chemicals.

When used at food processing facilities, the products help prevent Listeria growth.

According to Sterilex, the product line has a unique ability to kill resistant organisms such as Listeria living within protective biofilm.

“Sterilex products based off of PerQuat® technology are currently used by food processors across the United States as a key tool in their fight against deadly food pathogens such as Listeria,” said Alex Josowitz, Sterilex’s Director of Business Development.  “Unfortunately, not all producers are proactive in understanding how to prevent pathogens such as Listeria from being transferred to product contact surfaces and ultimately to the product itself.”

The company also cites findings of a 2009 study, published in Agricultural Research magazine, that Sterilex products are more effective in reducing the growth of Listeria than other currently used disinfectants.

Sterilex markets the products through cleaning and sanitation chemical providers in the U.S. and Canada.

Related articles

• FDA: Contaminated Equipment to Blame for Listeria Outbreak (usnews.com)
• CDC: 13 dead in listeria cantaloupe outbreak (msnbc.msn.com)