Researchers are investigating special new coatings that are more resistant to bacteria and other microbes than the food contact surfaces that are used now, according to a July symposium at IFT16: Where Science Feeds Innovation, hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

“Manufacturers already work diligently to keep their facilities clean, but we are creating materials that are even less likely to harbour bad bugs,” said 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 any microbes that do adhere, preventing them from growing and potentially contaminating our food supply.”

The coatings are still being researched but may be available commercially within a few years, she said.

Designing effective and durable coatings isn’t an easy task. “It’s a hard life for the equipment used in food production facilities because the coatings have to hold up to acidic and caustic cleaners, temperature extremes and abrasions from scrubbings. It’s a huge challenge to find coatings that will work under these extreme conditions,” Ms Goddard said.

One new coating works on resisting bacteria in several different ways, she said. “It has been shown to inactivate 99.999% of Listeria monocytogenes, a microbe that is a significant threat to food safety.”

In addition to being important to food safety, coatings like this can help reduce the massive amount of food that is wasted due to spoilage microbes, she said.