JAN. 21–MURRAY HILL, N.J.–Bar-S Foods Co., a hot dog and lunch meat processor, has installed BOC’s ozonated wash system and ultraviolet (UV) light pathogen intervention technologies in its three food processing plants to help combat such food-borne pathogens such as listeria monocytogenes.
The Phoenix-based Bar-S Foods Co. has instituted aggressive food safety initiatives, and multiple pathogen intervention steps are applied during processing, the mainstay of which is ozone gas (O3) dissolved in water.
“Bar-S Foods Company is committed to the development and implementation of the best technologies and procedures to deliver the safest products to customers. This is accomplished through a multiple hurdle and intervention approach, of which ozone is an integral part,” says Bob Reinhard, director of food safety and regulatory compliance for Bar-S Foods.
Danny Dupree, division vice president of plant operations at Bar-S Foods, says BOC was selected because it has “the experience, technology and product portfolio to meet company needs.
“BOC is a leader in providing pathogen intervention strategies to the food processing industry. They understand our needs, know where we want to go and have the expertise and engineered solutions to help us get there,” Dupree says.
Listeria proliferates in the cool moist environments found in ready-to-eat meat plants. It is most often found around drain areas and evaporator coils and can precipitate from the air or be transferred to food contact surfaces and food products themselves by employees or plant equipment.
To combat this threat, Bar-S Foods Co. installed BOC’s anti-microbial ozone wash systems in its Clinton, Lawton and Altus, Oklahoma processing plants. The wash systems introduce ozonated water on food-contact surfaces and on food itself to kill pathogens. Ozone is one of the world’s most powerful oxidants, and has been proven to be safe and effective in controlling E. coli, listeria and other pathogens in food processing environments.
Food processors look to BOC for the engineered solutions they need to achieve total process control in their plants. BOC uses the best available services and technologies to help customers address all of their atmosphere, microbe and temperature control needs. Customers benefit from BOC’s experience and expertise in providing a range of custom offerings, such as ozone and UV light technologies, cryogenic gases, modified atmosphere packaging, and water management services so they can deliver the highest quality food to their customers.
Bar-S Foods Co. is the manufacturer of over 100 processed meat items including bacon, lunchmeat, smoked sausage.