Byotrol – the breakthrough in infection control

Citation

(2008), "Byotrol – the breakthrough in infection control", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 38 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2008.01738aab.009

Byotrol – the breakthrough in infection control

Byotrol – the breakthrough in infection control

A revolutionary technology solution from leading anti-microbial technology company Byotrol plc is now available for all AIMS members to provide total hygiene control right across the supply chain – literally from farm to fork.

This solution cannot only deliver significant cost savings in the area of hygiene but also eliminates the need to change cleaning products every few months to combat resistance. The technology combines low toxicity and minimal taint with residual efficacy and broadband effect, which is a real breakthrough for the Independent Meat Suppliers Association and the food processing industry as a whole.

At present, the cost of using water in a cleaning process is around £4 per tonne by the time it has been made suitable for return to the environment. Because Byotrol's toxicity is several orders of magnitude lower than most other disinfectants on the market and its components are biodegradable, there is a potential immediate saving to be made over conventional biocides in this area alone.

Unlike other products on the market place, Byotrol is ideally suited for use right across the supply chain from general cleaning, through to production line sanitisation and personal hygiene control. At the other end of the chain, fogging products are suitable for not only cleaning meat manufacturing plants but even transport and containers. Byotrol plc has split its offering into three defined areas namely, Intersphere, Nanosphere and Agrisphere to demonstrate the single consistent approach to microbial control.

At the start of the cycle Byotrol's Intersphere range is the first product to effectively and permanently control micro-organisms which develop on the interior and exterior walls of buildings such as abattoirs. The Intersphere range is available in a number of formats including 750ml ready for use trigger sprays for localized application through to 5 and 20l ready for use containers as well as 5 and 20l concentrate containers. Byotrol technology has also been incorporated into an anti-microbial paint which offers long-lasting microbial control and is much more cost effective than white tiling your entire premises.

Then there is Byotrol's Nanosphere range which is designed specifically for the Food processing industries and comprises a full portfolio of products to tackle all the hygiene issues involved in today's complex commercial food environments, such as preventing and combating food spoilage organisms such as Pseudomonas and Escherichicoli especially prevalent in meat/poultry processing. Byotrol plc recommends a cleaning regime consisting of a thorough deep clean of all equipment including conveyor belts and production lines using Byotrol's fogging machinery. The misting unit applies the Byotrol technology in a fine aerosol and ensures all surfaces, including hard to reach areas, are cleaned. In addition, a hand-held trigger spray and disposable wipes impregnated with Byotrol are used for treatment of all hard surfaces.

Completing the cycle is Byotrol's Agrisphere product range, which provides a comprehensive range of cleaning and sanitising products for farmers. The product range includes DEFRA approved Microcleanse concentrate liquid for dilution for use on buildings, equipment, animals' hooves and hoof care. Dairysan teat dip and spray as well as teat wipes for teats and milk clusters are also available, along with Dairysan hard surface wipes for hard contact surfaces. A Dairycleanse concentrate liquid for dilution in open plant and cubicles and the Agricare hand santising mousse complete the Agrisphere product range.

So how does this revolutionary technology work?

Byotrol products have a four stage effect on micro-organisms using changes in surface tension as the basis of their attack.

1. 1.

   Byotrol's component biocides attack micro-organisms on a surface as soon as the product is applied.

2. 2.

   Byotrol then conditions the surfaces before additional micro-organisms land, making it more difficult for the micro-organisms to settle on the surface, attach and reproduce.

3. 3.

   When micro-organisms secrete material in an attempt to form a biofilm, (i.e. attachment properties which enable biofilm production) the secretion compounds – proteins, polysaccharides or oily type materials – are all disrupted by the pervading surface tension regime, making it much more difficult or impossible for the organisms to form a firm attachment to the surface.

4. 4.

   Finally, the micro-organisms, in their weakened state, succumb to Byotrol's residual, long-lasting biocidal action provided by its component biocides. These are not aggressive chemical compounds, but when acting on a micro-organism, they cause the organism's membrane to burst before it has a chance to reproduce.

The effectiveness of any biocide is combination of the toxicity of the biocide combined with the time it is contact with the surface it is being used to clean. Most developments in disinfectant in recent years have focused on making the biocide increasingly potent, with little or no development in contact time. If you can significantly increase the contact time from seconds (most current technologies) tohours, days, weeks and even months, the effectiveness of your biocide increases exponentially and importantly you can achieve successful disinfection with much milder biocides which are significantly less harmful to humans and animals. It is this use of increased contact time coupled with relatively mild biocides that makes the Byotrol technology so effective.

The technology is based around a nano-polymer combined with a number of biocides. The polymer is inert and highly stable and when applied to a surface it forms a microscopically thin and invisible layer, which conditions the surface and makes it difficult if not impossible for organisms to settle on it. Because the polymer is inert and stable it remains in place for days, weeks and even months at a time depending on the formulation of the Byotrol product being used. It is this polymer, which provides the residual efficacy meaning Byotrol technology works long after application. Associated with the polymer are a range of biocides and it is these biocides which actually kill the organisms.

The Byotrol technology has been tested and certified against protocol EN1276 (clean and dirty conditions) by Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association. In addition to eradicating E. Coli, Byotrol has been proven to successfully eradicate difficult pathogens such as Listeria and Clostridium and in fact all food spoilage or pathogenic bacteria of concern to the meat processing industry. Having passed CCFRA taint tests, Byotrol is ideal for use in the meat and poultry industry.

For further information about the Byotrol products please contact Byotrol plc on 0161 277 9518.