Along with her first husband, Ward Harris Smith, Florence co-founded Birko in 1953 in their Ogden, Utah, garage. The first Birko products were alkaline cleaners and Tripe Wash for use in federally-inspected meat plants. Ward died in 1977.

“Florence had the foresight of looking to the future for Birko,” said Kelly Green, Florence’s granddaughter, Birko’s current chairman and third generation owner. “She was a pioneer for women in a field traditionally dominated by men and was recognized in 1994 by the National Meat Association as Industry Person of the Year.”

As an increased value add to the firm’s customers, Florence launched Birko’s transportation division in order to provide premier customer service and on-time delivery.

Birko’s current CEO, Mark Swanson, said, “Florence and Ward found a niche in creating value added chemistry for the food industry. The culture that they created has accountability to the customer as paramount to everything we do. This culture remains the key to our success.”

Memorial services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb.18, 2012, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, University Hills Ward, 2710 S. Monaco Pkwy., Denver, CO 80222.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Ward Harris Smith Memorial Scholarship program at Texas A&M, the National Meat Association Scholarship Foundation, or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

About Birko
Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the protein processing, food and beverage industries. Birko manufactures concentrated CIP, sanitation, antimicrobial intervention and process chemical formulations. Birko’s equipment division designs and manufactures chemical dispensing systems, antimicrobial mixing and spraying conveyors and carcass washing and pasteurizing equipment. Birko’s information technology includes BirkoStats™, an online chemical usage tracking system. Founded in 1953, Birko is a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association. birkocorp.com

Usually these incidents involve the mistaken addition of an alkaline liquid or other contaminant, to Birko Liquik Bleach, a 34% hydrogen peroxide solution. The contaminant causes the hydrogen peroxide to decompose very rapidly, liberating a large quantity of oxygen. The reaction can be so violent that the pressure inside the drum or tote increases to a level sufficient to burst the drum and spray its contents over the chemical storage area. If personnel are in the vicinity serious injury may result.

Birko safety training includes these guidelines to help processors avoid this situation.

1. Hydrogen peroxide solutions are stable as long as they are kept clean and free of contamination. Alkalis, metals, organic materials, chlorine bleach and acids will all cause hydrogen peroxide to rapidly and violently decompose. Drum spears used in drums of hydrogen peroxide should be kept off the floor and free of contamination when changing out drums. If there is a suspicion of contamination, the spear should be washed with clean water before placing it in the new drum.
2. Drums of hydrogen peroxide should always be properly vented (both bungs removed) to allow the oxygen that vents off the product to dissipate safely. A loose cover that prevents debris from entering the drum is OK. The danger comes when an evolution of gas is so large and so rapid that venting may not make a difference.
3. Never, ever return chemicals that have been dispensed to a larger container. The risk of contamination or reaction following inadvertent mixing of incompatible materials is too great. Excess chemical that has been dispensed from a larger container should either be used in an appropriate manner or diluted and disposed of appropriately.

For more information on the safe handling of Birko Liquik Bleach, see the MSDS, located on our Customer Downloads page.

“Birko continues to grow and we’re excited to be recognized as one of Colorado’s leading family-owned companies,” said Mark Swanson, Birko’s CEO. “Even in a challenging economy, we’re proud to be a leading manufacturer in the vital food safety industry.”

About Birko
Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the protein processing, food and beverage industries. Birko manufactures concentrated CIP, sanitation, antimicrobial intervention and process chemical formulations. Birko’s equipment division designs and manufactures chemical dispensing systems, antimicrobial mixing and spraying conveyors and carcass washing and pasteurizing equipment. Birko’s information technology includes BirkoStats™, an online chemical usage tracking system. Founded in 1953, Birko is a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association.

Birko’s Chicxide®, an innovative lactic acid- and citric acid-based antimicrobial intervention, is approved by the USDA for use on whole carcasses pre-chill. In a production environment, treatment with Chicxide® reduced the incidence of carcasses testing positive for Salmonella from 92% before treatment to 4% after treatment.

Independent testing conducted by Texas Tech University in 2009 verified the efficacy of Chicxide® applied as either a spray or dip intervention for Salmonella. Spray application resulted in a 1.3-log reduction, while immersion yielded a 2.3-log reduction. The study also concluded that when applied at a level of 2.5% or less, Chicxide® did not produce any quality defects in broiler carcasses.

Chicxide® can provide an effective antimicrobial hurdle at multiple process points. Suggested applications include a spray or dip applications on poultry carcasses after the picking machines and immediately before the spray chiller. Chicxide® is included in FSIS Directive 7120.1, specifically questions 9 and 10, issued April 5, 2011.

In addition, Birko also offers consulting services on cleaning and sanitation processes.

“While food safety audits for hire have created a problem in the food safety system, there are still many steps processors can take to ensure food safety,” said Dana Johnson, Birko’s produce specialist. “These include products such as Birkoside MP-2™, and a closer look at cleaning and sanitation practices.”

An October 2011 study compared the efficacy of peroxyacetic acid and sodium hypochlorite solutions for reducing Listeria on cantaloupe rind. Cantaloupes rinsed with PAA showed a 99.2% reduction in the number of Listeria bacteria, compared to a 96.6% reduction in Listeria when a sodium hypochlorite bleach rinse was used. The study was conducted by Enviro Tech Chemical Services, Modesto, Calif.

“In addition to good interventions, produce processors also need to develop a strong Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan (HACCP),” Johnson said.

Birko provides HACCP consultation for fruit and vegetable processors through its HACCP-certified food safety consultants. The company provides complete in-plant cleaning, chemical and sanitation audits, as well as assistance with chemical product usage, custom equipment procurement and employee training.

About Birko
Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the protein processing, food and beverage industries. Birko manufactures concentrated CIP, sanitation, antimicrobial intervention and process chemical formulations. Birko’s equipment division designs and manufactures chemical dispensing systems, antimicrobial mixing and spraying conveyors and carcass washing and pasteurizing equipment. Birko’s information technology includes BirkoStats™, an online chemical usage tracking system, and VerifEYE™, a fecal identification imaging system. Founded in 1953, Birko is a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association. birkocorp.com

“We have demonstrated that Beefxide® is highly effective against E. coli O157:H7, and this research supports our expectation that it will be effective against the non-O157 STECs as well,” said Dr. Elis Owens, a chemist/microbiologist at Birko. Beefxide® is also effective in reducing Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria. The research was conducted by Colorado State University and funded by the American Meat Institute Foundation.

Beefxide® has been approved by the USDA for use as an antimicrobial processing aid on beef intended for human consumption. Beefxide® is formulated from FDA-approved ingredients and all components of the formula are GRAS. Beefxide® is also suitable for use on products to be labeled as natural or organic.

About Birko
Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the protein processing, food and beverage industries. Birko manufactures concentrated CIP, sanitation, antimicrobial intervention and process chemical formulations. Birko’s equipment division designs and manufactures chemical dispensing systems, antimicrobial mixing and spraying conveyors and carcass washing and pasteurizing equipment. Birko’s information technology includes BirkoStats™, an online chemical usage tracking system, and VerifEYE™, a fecal identification imaging system. Founded in 1953, Birko is a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association. birkocorp.com

Because of the tight regulations for EPA compliance and the accompanying costs, the common sanitizers and disinfectants tend to be generic. A small handful of companies hold the primary EPA registrations and other companies, such as Birko, subregister products from the primary registrants.

The common sanitizers and disinfectants are sodium hypochlorite solutions, quaternary ammonium chloride solutions, iodophor solutions, chlorine dioxide solutions, and peracetic acid solutions. All of these have FDA clearance for use on food contact surfaces if applied per 21CFR 178.1010 regulations.

Each type of sanitizer and disinfectant has advantages and disadvantages. For example, sodium hypochlorite is the cheapest product with a broad spectrum of kill to use, but it is the most corrosive to metal surfaces and is not suitable for use at elevated temperatures. In the refrigeration area, chlorine dioxide would not be suitable because it has a dramatic drop in efficacy below 51 degrees F.

While effective, sanitizers and disinfectants do not kill 100% of the organisms present. If you use one sanitizer exclusively over time you will end up with a population of organisms that are tolerant to that sanitizer. It is better to rotate between two or more sanitizers so that tolerant populations of microorganisms do not build up.

Refrigeration inhibits microbial growth of most microorganisms — usually by stopping their reproduction. However, Listeria reproduces at these low temperatures, and because it has no competition from other microorganisms to stop it, Listeria is the major pathogen of concern with refrigerated foods. Freezing temperatures prevent the propagation of microorganisms but most can survive freezing and will reproduce when temperatures become warm enough to allow them to do so.

Biofilms are getting attention these days, particularly in plants with persistent problems controlling pathogens. Biofilms are 10 times more difficult to kill than planktonic cells (individual free floating bacteria). Only one company, Sterilex, has invested the money to get EPA certification on their products for biofilm removal. In addition to our own formulations, Birko distributes Sterilex products.

As far as we know, there is no silver bullet that ensures perfect food safety. Education and awareness are the best approach. Birko can help optimize your cleaning and sanitizing procedures, and help train your employees in the proper methods so your plant produces the safest food possible.

“The current concerns are that Salmonella in pet foods could be transmitted to humans who handle the food and then touch their own mouths, as well as cause illness in the pets,” said Dr. Elis Owens, a chemist/microbiologist at Birko. “Birko has several antimicrobial processing aids that can be used by pet food processors.”

Birko’s Beefxide®, approved by the USDA for use as an antimicrobial processing aid on beef intended for human consumption, is being applied by some pet food processors to raw meat ingredients prior to grinding. Beefxide® is applied using conveyor spray cabinets in a method analogous to treating beef trim during ground beef production.

“Pet food companies are also using Birkoside MP-2™, a PAA-based antimicrobial intervention,” Owens said. Birkoside MP-2™ is fast acting and is approved for use on beef intended for human consumption. It provides a very favorable cost of use per application when compared to other antimicrobial interventions.

Both Beefxide® and Birkoside MP-2™ are non-toxic, sustainability-friendly products.

Birko’ technical representatives are available to advise pet food processors on the use of antimicrobials, lactates and sanitation chemicals. Birko provides complete in-plant cleaning, chemical and sanitation audits, as well as assistance with chemical product usage, custom equipment procurement and employee training.

About Birko
Birko is a leading provider of food safety solutions to the protein processing, food and beverage industries. Birko manufactures concentrated CIP, sanitation, antimicrobial intervention and process chemical formulations. Birko’s equipment division designs and manufactures chemical dispensing systems, antimicrobial mixing and spraying conveyors and carcass washing and pasteurizing equipment. Birko’s information technology includes BirkoStats™, an online chemical usage tracking system, and VerifEYE™, a fecal identification imaging system. Founded in 1953, Birko is a WBENC Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and was awarded Supplier of the Century by the National Meat Association.

• Clean – Wash hands and surfaces often
• Separate – Do not cross-contaminate
• Cook – Cook to proper temperatures
• Chill – refrigerate food promptly

Here are the specific details for these recommended steps:

• Always wash your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling food.
• Remember that temperatures between 40° F and 140° F allow bacteria to grow rapidly. Refrigerate cooked leftovers promptly within two hours, or one hour when the temperatures are over 90° F. Use an appliance thermometer to ensure that your refrigerator is at 40° F or below.
• Divide leftovers into smaller portions and store in shallow containers in the refrigerator. Hot food can be placed directly in the refrigerator.
• Leftovers should be reheated to an internal temperature of at least 165° F. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. Sauces, soups, and gravies should be reheated by bringing them to a boil.
• When microwaving leftovers, make sure there are no cold spots in food (where bacteria can survive). Cover food, stir and rotate for even cooking. If there is no turntable, rotate the dish by hand once or twice during cooking.

The Partnership for Food Safety Education “saves lives and improves public health through research-based, actionable consumer food safety initiatives that reduce foodborne illness.” They point out that there are limits to leftovers and recommend discarding leftovers in three to four days.

In addition to these suggestions for personal food safety, Birko can help food and beverage processors by providing:

• Over 250 sanitation chemicals
• Dispensing and foaming equipment
• EPA registered sanitizers
• Antimicrobial interventions
• Process aids (antifoams, food grade acids, etc.)
• Con-Tact-It® Bacteria Detection System
• We also distribute Sterilex products, the only EPA registered biofilm remover currently on the market.

Birko also offers HACCP consultation to help ensure our customers are in compliance with FDA and USDA regulations. In short, we don’t make the food; rather, we help our customers take the preventative steps necessary to ensure that their products get delivered to the marketplace or consumer as safely as possible.

Birko carries several products that can be useful in controlling Salmonella in pet foods. For example, Beefxide®, approved by the USDA for use as an antimicrobial processing aid on beef intended for human consumption, is being applied by some pet food processors to raw meat ingredients prior to grinding. Beefxide is being applied using conveyor spray cabinets in a method analogous to treating beef trim during ground beef production. Birkoside MP-2™ is a PAA-based antimicrobial intervention that is also being used by pet food companies as part of their process. Birkoside MP-2™ is fast acting and is also approved for use on beef intended for human consumption. It provides a very favorable cost of use per application when compared to other antimicrobial interventions. Both Beefxide® and Birkoside MP-2™ are non-toxic, sustainability-friendly products.

Our technical representatives are available to advise pet food processors on the use of antimicrobials, lactates and sanitation chemicals.