Filtration Knocks Out Deadly Bacteria in Nursery

Hurdle technology, typically used in the manufacture of food and beverage products to protect against pathogens, involves a series of hurdles that are placed between the pathogen and the product. Typical hurdles are temperature and chemicals, but when too much is applied, nutritional deficiencies in the formula can result. When the hurdles are not set high enough, bacteria can develop adaptive responses. If hurdle intensities are reduced to meet nutritional quality requirements, the technology may fail to ensure pathogen control and product safety.

The recently developed total fluid management (TFM) solution uses filtration for bacteria control and is based on hurdle technology. The filters are placed at the source of each fluid, ingredient, or air that will become part of the process or final product. The focus is on the strategic and systematic placement of these disriminating physical barriers to target pathogens only. Since this system does not require high temperatures to destroy the pathogens, the quality of the product is not impacted, and there are no harmful thermally-induced effects.

The following flow diagram of a sample process illustrates how TFM can be applied in the manufacture of powdered infant formula. A preliminary risk assessment and a process survey determine the process-critical points for contamination. In this scenario, there are two general paths during which contamination can occur: input of raw materials to produce the formula and recontamination of the formula after heat treatment.

Protection Against Pathogens

For a successful TFM model that uses filtration for powdered infant formula processing, each critical point for contamination and specific filter sequence must be addressed individually. Each filtration sequence includes exceptionally durable and reliable membrane filters for maximum biological protection against bacteria, endotoxins, and viruses.

An effective filter will have the following characteristics, capabilities, and conformance.

• Long service life
• Ultralow binding properties
• Broad chemical and temperature resistance
• Ability to accommodate high flow rates
• Ability to withstand steam sterilization
• Absolute retention of pathogens, including E. Sakazakii, validated by a nondestructive integrity test.
• Conformance with Good Manufacturing Practices/Good Hygienic Practices (GMP/GHP) requirements
• Conformance with USFDA and HACCP requirements for tank venting and water, air, and gas sterile filtration
• Conformance with HACCP requirements for sterile filtration of heat-sensitive nutrients and additives.

The TFM model that uses filtration in the processing of powdered infant formula allows safety levels of 0 cfu/100 g. to be reached. Using high-quality filters and a unique, highly effective hurdle technology, in combination with efficient process environment management and HACCP process control, eliminates the need for higher temperatures during production. The nutritional value of the formula is preserved, and its superior protection against the E. Sakazakii bacterium ensured.

Reference:

1. van Acker et al. 2001, Outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis associated with Enterobacter sakazakii in powdered milk. In J.Clin. Microbiology 2003 N°39].

Anita Garem is a dairy specialist and Pall’s European Food & Beverage division. Reach her at +49 (0) 7171 401 220 or [email protected].