Clean Air Solutions in Food Processing

This literature review deals with air handling in controlled environments in the food industry. The concern to determine the importance of the airflow as a possible source of contamination is growing, because the airborne dust particles can introduce foreign matter including microbial contaminants into the products produced. The following criteria should be used to determine a sampling strategy: the sampling method, specificity and level of sensitivity required as well as the speed with which a result is required. The microbial particles are likely to be more important than the total particle counts, because they can cause infections or be responsible for allergenic and toxic illnesses. Important information needed from the sampling period includes: location and area of the site, date and time of sampling, test temperature and moisture conditions, functions of the ventilation system during sampling, personnel in the area, volume of air sampled, collection media used and incubation time and temperature used as well as sampler used. A careful planning of the plant layout as well as the services are needed to be able to choose an optimal clean air solution. Common methods used to reduce viable microbial counts in the production facilities include filtration, chemical fogging, ozone and UV radiation. The air filters needed in most food-processing environment are of barrier type, in which dust particles and the majority of microbes are captured and retained. The degree of filtration required is dependent largely on the product being manufactured. Since most food production plants are located in industrial areas with heavy atmospheric pollution, consumers need to be assured that these pollutants are excluded from the foodstuffs they consume.The filtration must be efficient enough to eliminate bacteria, fungi and spores from the airstream. The primary air filters protect the mechanical items of an air movement system from gross contamination over years of operation. Secondary filters are employed to remove smaller particulates from the air to a level needed in the process. Tertiary filters offer the