processes. The use of UV-C allows a waterless and chemical-free
method of decontaminating food contact surfaces such as HDPE,
HDPP, and stainless steel, or more specifically the purge from the
food products which lie on the food contact surfaces. Our results
demonstrate the potential of UV-C for decontamination of purge
and food contact surfaces. To date there has been little published
data on the use of UV-C to inactivate microorganisms suspended in
purge which contaminates food contact surfaces. Sommers and
Gunther demonstrated a >5 log reduction of Campylobacter jejuni
suspended in poultry exudate on food contact surfaces by UV-C These results are similar to UV-C
inactivation obtained in similar experiments using the biothreat
agent F. tularensis, in which a >5 log
reduction of F. tularensis was obtained in purge from meat, poultry,
and catfish. It may be useful to examine the use of UV-C in combination
with natural antimicrobials for inactivation of microorganisms
within food product exudate in the future.