Ozone Solutions for Today’s Food Processing Challenges
The food and beverage processing industry is confronting many significant challenges. Of paramount concern are food safety issues and more stringent regulations given more frequent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. There is also increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability practices such as reducing water and energy usage. Recent supply chain disruptions and labour shortages have also contributed to the difficulties the industry faces.
Advanced ozone water treatment technology has many benefits that can address and help alleviate these challenges now and in the future. Here are some of them:
Enhanced Food Safety & Quality
Ozone water treatment is now the fastest growing technology in the global water disinfection market. It is a powerful oxidant that effectively kills bacteria, viruses, pathogens and other harmful microorganisms. It is now universally recognized as more effective and faster than chlorine. Furthermore, because ozone is a natural chemical free treatment it enhances product safety by eliminating the risk of residual toxic chemicals on the final product. Ozone benefits for food & beverage processing also include enhanced product quality, reduced spoilage and extended shelf life by eliminating the growth of bacteria in the end product.
Reduced Water & Energy Use
Two key conservation features available with advanced ozone water treatment systems are No-Rinse Sanitation and Closed Loop Sanitation. Both of these options not only improve food safety, but can also reduce operational costs due to shorter time required for sanitation and less water and energy usage.
No-Rinse Sanitation – This option eliminates the need for a final rinse therefore conserving water, energy, reducing downtime and increasing production efficiency.
Closed Loop Sanitation – This option enables water to be-reused throughout the processing cycle. This sanitation process operates on cold water, therefore reducing the energy costs typically associated with traditional hot water rinse processes.
Regulatory Compliance
Ozone treatment systems can help meet the most stringent regulatory requirements for food safety, water quality and environmental protection while also improving overall efficiency and cost effectiveness.
Ozone water treatment is approved for food and surface sanitation by both the US Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Food safety is enhanced through the use of ozone given the toxic chemicals which are often used in traditional sanitation processes, are eliminated or can be significantly reduced by using ozone in the treatment train.
Sustainable
Ozone is produced on site as needed using only ambient air and electricity, leaving only dissolved oxygen after treatment. Ozone treatment systems are more environmentally friendly than traditional food processing systems. Ozone can eliminate or significantly reduce the need to purchase, transport, and store chemicals. Furthermore, ozone can significantly reduce water and energy consumption.
Minimizes Supply Chain Disruptions
Ozone treatment systems reduces reliance on chemicals which can be subject to supply chain disruptions. Furthermore, recent supply chain shortages have seriously impacted not only food processing operations, but have also increased operational costs. According to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, the Price Index for Chlorine & Alkalies has increased by 57% over the past year.
Reduced Labour Costs
Advanced ozone food processing systems can be fully automated and accessed remotely from a secure smart phone or computer. These features reduce the time required to train operation and maintenance staff. The systems are reliable and require minimal maintenance.
Advance ozone water treatment technology offers future proof solutions that can help the food and beverage processing industry address its biggest challenges by improving food safety, reducing its environmental impact, increasing efficiency while ensuring regulatory compliance. To learn how ozone can address your needs, please contact us here.
