United States.
Scientists at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) are investigating new special coatings that are more resistant to bacteria and other microbes for surfaces that are in contact with food and used today.
"Manufacturers are already working diligently to keep their facilities clean, but they're creating materials that are much less susceptible to harboring bad bugs," says Julie Goddard, an associate professor in the department of food science at Cornell University. "We have designed new polymer coatings that can be applied to food processing surfaces that resist microbial adhesion and can actually inactivate sticking microbes, impeding their growth and potentially contaminating our food supply."
Coatings are still being researched, but they may be commercially available within a few years, and in addition to being important for food safety, coatings of this type can help reduce the enormous amount of food that is wasted due to altering microorganisms, says the researcher.
Source: IFT
