7 replies to this topic

[fodaphile]

Hi all,

Nice to meet so many food safety experts here.

I would like to ask two questions concerning vegetable sanitizing chemicals

1. there is a shelf life for the chemical per supplier information. Why is that and can I still use it effectively after it expired?
2. Can the sanitizing chemical, say XY 12, effectively remove the pesticide residue in vegetables?

Thanks.

[Anki]

Hi There,

 

1. If chemical is expired, you shouldn't use. There is a reason for supplier to provide shelf life and lack of chemical effectiveness may affect your product safety. 

 

2. Sanitizing chemicals are used for reducing microbial load, but not pesticide residue. However, any solvent and solute may possibly reduce some pesticide levels from product but it is unlikely that you can validate such methods.  

 

Hope this helps. 

[Charles.C]

Dear fodaphile,

 

For query (1) it might have helped to inform what the chemical actually is ? (not the brand name).

For example hypochlorite might simply, gradually lose efficiency with time.

 

Rgds / Charles.C

[PetBone]

I know this doesn't exactly answer your question, but if you need to look at alternative vegetable washes, I have had experience with Victory by Ecolab. It is a

combination of peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide which does not require a rinse step.

[Slab]

Hi, fodaphile;

 

You should be checking sanitizer strength via titration (drop kit) or quick test (pads/strips) at a minimum daily for proper concentrations. Any changes to the input would also warrant another check (equipment stops and repairs, adjustments/change-over etc.). 

 

Expiration is just a limit of liability for chemical suppliers under optimal conditions.

[fgjuadi]

XY-12 is sodium hypochlorite from EcoLab.  I do not believe it has been validated to remove pesticides.

[Snookie]

Pesticides are regulated so it should be clear that whatever pesticide is being used is safe for the product and does not require removal. 

[clover]

How can you be so sure of it? 

Pesticides are regulated so it should be clear that whatever pesticide is being used is safe for the product and does not require removal.