CITROSOL and KRONEN have successfully complete the last phase of the aqUAFRESH European project

Nowadays, there is an increasing demand for high quality fresh-cut products that comply with the strictest food safety standards. Washing with water is a fundamental step in its processing since it removes dirt and there’s a challenge to reduce the microbial load. CITROSOL and KRONEN, the German specialist in fresh-cut machinery, take part in the aqUAFRESH project, with the collaboration of the CNTA of Navarra, Spain. This project aims to develop a new and revolutionary system of washing and disinfection, alternative to the use of chlorine. Thus, the efficiency, food security and sustainability of the whole process will be improved. After an intensive research, a pilot at industrial scale was carried out to validate the laboratory results of both the specifications for the disinfectant solution application and the entire washing process. For this, more than 3,000 kg of raw material of different types of cut leaf, and more than 1,000 kg of processed carrot have been employed to simulate industrial washing conditions. In addition, three different scenarios whose main variable was the CITROCIDE PLUS dose and a control with chlorinated water have been studied. Then, different microbiological and DBPs analysis (chlorates, chlorites, perchlorates) have been carried out. In the absence of the final conclusions that will be obtained at the end of the year when the project ends, it is deduced after the pilot test that the CITROCIDE FRESH-CUT SYSTEM also contributes to reduce water consumption in the KRONEN washing machines, minimizing the water footprint of the process and contributing to its sustainability. Finally, the CITROCIDE SYSTEM will provide greater control of the disinfection process of fresh-cut products by monitoring effectively the process and bringing higher accuracy to the dosing. In the absence of the final conclusions that will be obtained at the end of the year when the project ends, it is deduced after the pilot test that the CITROCIDE CUT-FRESH SYSTEM also contributes to reduce water consumption in the Kronen washing machines, minimizing the water footprint of the process and contributing to its sustainability. Finally, the CITROCIDE SYSTEM will provide greater control and will allow to monitor the disinfection processes of fresh-cut products accurately.