Enhancement of bactericidal effects of sodium hypochlorite in chiller water with food additive grade calcium hydroxide.

An alkaline agent, namely food additive grade calcium hydroxide (FdCa(OH)) in solution at 0.17%, was evaluated for its bactericidal efficacies in chiller water with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at a concentration of 200 ppm total residual chlorine. Without organic material presence, NaOCl could inactivate Salmonella Infantis and Escherichia coli within 5 sec, but in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 0.5%, the bactericidal effects of NaOCl were diminished completely. FdCa(OH) solution required 3 min to inactivate bacteria with or without 5% FBS. When NaOCl and FdCa(OH) were mixed at the final concentration of 200 ppm and 0.17%, respectively, the mixed solution could inactivate bacteria at acceptable level (10 reduction of bacterial titer) within 30 sec in the presence of 0.5% FBS. The mixed solution also inhibited cross-contamination with S. Infantis or E. coli on chicken meats. It was confirmed and elucidated that FdCa(OH) has a synergistic effect together with NaOCl for inactivating microorganisms.