Gertrudes Corção PhD
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande Do Sul
The following presentation was delivered at the 2012 Alltech Symposium and is reproduced with edits for readers of EGG-CITE.com.
“Farm-to-Fork” traceability in food production requires that animal feeds should be produced using high standards of hygiene. Preventing microbial contamination of diets in feed mills is essential to prevent pathogens and toxins from entering the human food chain.
The feed industry operates in a dry production environment which should limit microbial growth. A nidus of infection with bacteria or fungi may develop in areas of a mill due to moisture from condensation, structural defects or residual water after wet cleaning. Bacteria may form biofilms in these locations which allow persistence of microorganisms in biofilms which are refractory to disinfection. Neglect of cleaning and disinfection may lead to the accumulation of organic material including dust and feed residues. The efficiency of many disinfectants is reduced in the presence of organic material.