News
Philip Snellen Joins Birko as Vice President - Sales
Philip Snellen has been appointed Vice President of Sales at Birko Corporation. He was formerly an executive with Zep, Inc. where he held senior positions in both sales and marketing. Prior to joining Zep, he successfully occupied a variety of executive positions with Diversey, Inc., including managing a regional sales force selling products and services in a variety of vertical markets through multiple distribution networks. His earlier experience was with Australia-based Gibson Chemical Industries where he became Division Manager for their U.S. subsidiary, Puritan/Churchill. Mr. Snellen received degrees in both Chemistry and Economics from LaTrobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
Mr. Snellen will be working closely with Birko's numerous Technical Representatives located in the principle meat producing areas of the U.S. and Canada, where he will continue to drive Birko’s leadership position in food safety specialty chemical applications in the protein industries.
HB2 Antimicrobial is Effective Against E. coli 0157:H7
HB2 is a new, patent-pending, precursor for generating Hypobromous acid for use as an antimicrobial from Enviro Tech Chemical Services, Inc. of Modesto, CA. Hypobromous acid generated from HB2 has been shown, in controlled lab tests, to reduce E. coli 0157:H7 and other problem pathogens by as much as 99.959% in a one minute period and up to 99.999% over five minutes. This compares favorably with other popular antimicrobial interventions in current use. This all-liquid source of Hypobromous acid offers significant advantages over the other source of Hypobromous acid, DBDMH. Specific advantages for the two-part HB2 liquid chemistry are cost, ease of application and safety. Enviro Tech was recently awarded FDA FCN (Food Contact Notification) 000944 for use of Hybobromous acid from HB2 and has received GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) notification for use in meat plants. It is listed in 7120.1 R2 and may be used as intervention on red meat and poultry in USDA-inspected plants.
HB2 is available in 55-gallon drums, totes or bulk for larger slaughter operations. Birko provides evaluation data, validation test samples and full implementation support. Please contact your Birko Technical Representative or contact Birko directly at (800) 525-0476.
Please register > to view additional information on HB2 efficacy and applications.
Birko Sponsoring RMC 2010
Birko is a Silver Sponsor of the American Meat Science Association's annual Reciprocal Meat Conference 2010 to be held at Texas Tech University June 20th to 23rd. This conference brings together scientists, thought leaders and students from the meat industry, universities and government to discuss a broad array of topical issues facing the industry, from meat quality and safety to technical developments in meat plant operations. Begun in 1946, this is one of the oldest conferences of its kind contributing to professional development. Read more about AMSA and the RMC 2010 conference at the AMSA website.
Birko is Expanding Our Online Services
Birko is now making our extensive knowledge base available to customers who would like to register to view this content online. We have years of experience assisting food plants of all kinds with difficult cleaning and sanitation problems, compliance and regulatory issues and optimization of process applications and chemical usage. We offer a variety of water and energy saving options as well as an extensive list of green and environmentally-friendly chemical products for plants interested in furthering their sustainability programs. We will be adding white papers, editorials and information of interest to help those of you who are responsible for keeping food plants clean, sanitary and safe. To register please follow this secure Registration Link. After registering you will be able to use the Birko Login > on the navigation list to the left. Your personal information is kept strictly confidential, please refer to our Policy Statement for details.
Birko Now Stocks BlitzT.M PAA Antimcrobial
The purpose of FSIS Notice 05-09 (View PDF) is to interupt E. coli that may be present on incoming product from entering further processing operations. Frequently product arriving at the processing line can come from a variety of sources. PAA (Peracetic Acid) offers a rapid antimicrobial effect and quickly breaks down to harmless chemical constituents. Birko now stocks BlitzT.M PAA for direct application to product. Portion-cut and grind operations can add a BlitzT.M PAA intervention step at a very low cost. For further information contact your Birko Technical Representative.
Birko Disinfection and Hand-Sanitation Products for the Flu Outbreak
Several disinfectants and sanitizers from Birko's extensive list of products used in food plants for the elimination of problem pathogens can also be effective in disinfecting environmental surfaces for the influenza A virus 2009 H1N1. The list below provides information on the Birko products that may be helpful for general disinfection use. The E.P.A.-registered products suggested for this purpose are identified.Flu viruses can remain on hard surfaces such as door handles, railings, tables and other frequently touched surfaces for 24 hours or more with the potential to be transferred. Surface disinfection, among other interventions, plays a role as part of an active and thorough flu risk mitigation program.
You can find further information about these products on our Products/MSDS page:
DISINFECTION PRODUCTS:
Quadra QuatT.M. A 7.5% active, four-way quaternary ammonium (quat) sanitizer/disinfectant. Four-way quat is more effective against a broader array of microbes than normal two-way quat compounds. Registered with the E.P.A. and allowed for post-rinse sanitizing at 150 to 400 ppm. For flu disinfection a higher 800 ppm concentration is suggested. Contact us for additional information.
Ultra QuatT.M. A 10% active, four-way quaternary ammonium (quat) sanitizer/disinfectant. Four-way quat is more effective against a broader array of microbes than normal two-way quat compounds. Registered with the E.P.A. and allowed for post-rinse sanitizing at 150 to 400 ppm. For flu disinfection a higher 800 ppm concentration is suggested. Contact us for additional information.
BIRK-OXT.M. An E.P.A.-registered, 5.6% active peracetic acid (PAA or Peroxyacetic acid) liquid sanitizer. An excellent post-rinse sanitizer for all previously cleaned surfaces.
GENERAL SANITIZING PRODUCTS:
Bi-Clor-RiteT.M. A chlorinated cleaner and sanitizer having multiple uses in a food processing plants including microbial disinfection, bleaching, deodorizing and stain removal. An E.P.A.-registered sanitizer for both pre- and post-rinse and for hand sanitation.
BIRKODyneT.M. An all purpose iodophor-based sanitizer that is safe for use on all surfaces including natural and synthetic rubbers, plastic, stainless, and aluminum. Registered with the E.P.A. for pre- and post-rinse sanitizing, shoe bath sanitizing. Used as a post-rinse sanitizer and hand sanitizer at an iodophor concentration of 25 ppm.
HAND WASHING AND SANITATION:
10-QuatT.M. A 10 % mixture of quaternary ammonium compounds designed specifically for hand sanitizing at a concentration of 200 ppm. For use in all food handling and food processing areas.
BIRKODyneT.M. See the information for this product above.
HansanT.M. An iodophor-based hand-washing and sanitizing formulation containing a combination of surfactants and sanitizers. Acceptable for use in federally-inspected meat and poultry plants as a sanitizing hand-soap. Conforms to the old USDA E2 standard.
SanicleanT.M. A sanitizing liquid hand-soap containing quaternary ammonium compounds (quats). Acceptable for use in federally inspected meat and poultry facilities and ready-to-eat processing plants. This hand-soap mixture has moderate lathering agents for complete hand washing and quick rinsing. Complies with the old USDA E-2 standard.
Hand E SanT.M. A topical hand-rinse made from denatured alcohol (71%) with the addition of emollients to prevent dry skin. Used as a waterless, no-rinse hand-sanitizer specifically formulated for food processing personnel. Provides rapid kill of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and other microorganisms on the skin and reduces the incidence of cross contamination between employees and the food items they handle.
E.P.A.-registered products have strict guidelines for disinfection use which are found on the label and in the supporting literature. Birko's Technical Representatives are always the best source of information on the suitability of any Birko product for your specific application. Please feel free to contact us by phone or email.
Birko provides quantities of these products suitable for large-scale use by public transportation, schools, institutions, hotels, businesses and other facilities where more frequent application in high public-use locations would be required. Birko does not carry our products in quantities suitable for home use.
Please contact us to discuss how we might be able to assist you with a flu disinfection program.
Further information about environmental preparedness for flu can be found at: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/healthcare/influenzaguidance.html
BIRKO Rendering Products and the New Regulation
Birko's rendering customers have been working to be able to comply with the new FDA regulation due to take full effect on April 27th. With the loss of certain raw material and the high cost of adding equipment, plus having to comply with the reporting requirements of the regulation renderers may be looking for additional ways to improve their grade in order to improve their income from rendering operations.Depending on the rendering system and set up used, Birko Genzolate 3T.M. may help marginal finished product comply with the section of the regulation requiring that it be at or under 0.15% insoluble impurities. Renderer's on the border-line of meeting this specification may want to test this Birko product to see if it can help. See your Birko Tech Rep for details and to schedule a test.
Another part of the regulation requires that certain by-products of slaughter designated as SRM (Specified Risk Material) be identified by color so that they do not wind up mixed with product destined for feed. Birko FD&C Blue Concentrate, a denaturant, is a suitable product for this purpose since the color is different from colors generally used in meat plants for other identification purposes. See the Denaturants section of our products page.
Switching to Rend-R-AidT.M. Can Save Rendering Plants Thousands of Dollars
Birko may be able to help improve other aspects of rendering operations as well. Our new Rend-R-AidT.M., a high-purity acid, provides a low-cost alternative to various other acids commonly used to separate fats from water. Early test results for Rend-R-AidT.M. have been very positive. Projections for one large Birko customer plant anticipates a savings of $6,746.50 per month for a potential annual savings of $80,958 per year by switching to Rend-R-AidT.M.. For additional details contact your Birko Technical Representatives.
See Birko's Products/MSDS section under Special Use Chemicals for information on the products listed above.
For Further Reading:
The FDA has a question and answer format page (FAQ) on the BSE regulation available.
BIRKO Corporation Provides Custom Blending Services
BIRKO Corporation has announced the addition of custom chemical blending services at its Denver, Colorado manufacturing location. Birko's long history of developing specialty chemical formulations for the food processing industry provides a perfect fit for this addition. As the outsourcing trend continues to permeate the business community, more companies are searching for opportunities to reduce overhead by using contract manufacturers. Quality and reliability are paramount issues when choosing a business partner. Birko's state-of-the-art laboratory and production facility are available to meet this need. Please E-mail us for more information on our services.
Is the FDA Ready to enforce 21 CFR Part 11?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may be getting ready to come down hard on pharmaceutical companies who are not in compliance with 21 CFR Part 11.
The regulation requires processors of drugs, biotechnology products, cosmetics, medical products, food, and fine chemicals to adopt controls and meet other criteria for FDA to accept the integrity of electronic records and electronic signatures used in lieu of paper records.
Industry Articles in PDF:
Industry Article Links:
Birko suggests this short overview of biofilm issues in food plants:
"Biofilms: Our Constant Enemies," John Sofos, Ph.D., Food Safety Magazine, February/March 2009.
Be Sure to check out our Brewing Page For Articles Appropriate For Breweries And Wineries.
To view Dana Johnson's most recent articles on brewing issues please use the Birko Login link to the left and register to use the private side of our website.