Food safety goes spray on

FOOD poisoning outbreaks in Australia may become more preventable with a new sprayon technology being trialled to slow the growth of harmful bacteria.

Global bioscience company Chr. Hansen is working with Australian companies who produce items such as smoked salmon, yoghurt, pre-mixed salads and processed meats to trial the world’s first natural “bioprotective” spray known as Safepro.

Chr. Hansen Australia and NZ chief executive Kylie Evans said the spray contained a “natural bacteria” produced in a controlled environment, and was applied to foods in the manufacturing process.

“It’s not about killing anything, it’s about creating another hurdle like clean factories, good hygiene, sourcing, temperature — this is an extra hurdle to create a microclimate inside the food where the good bugs out-compete the bad bugs, and keep them under control,” Ms Evans said.

“Listeria is going to be present in a lot of our food. It’s a natural part of the environment ... this technology is about keeping that listeria at a really low level so that it can’t make anybody sick.”

Ms Evans said Australian companies had been trialling the spray for three to four months and she hoped it would be officially adopted in the next six to 12 months.

“Overseas a lot of the big manufacturers of loose leaf salads and ready-to-eat meals are using this technology, it’s pretty easy to see where it’s used, you’ll see the word ‘culture’ on the product . . . it’s pretty likely then it’s got Safepro inside,” she said.

She said the product had also been presented to Coles and Woolworths.

Ms Evans said the spray may also be able to reduce unnecessary food waste by extending a product’s shelf life by one or two days.

But she said the spray would not create products with a “long life’’ such as milk.

“No one wants to buy a salad that lasts for 40 days. It’s about making the product just as safe at the end of its life, but that’ll be it,” Ms Evans said.

Australia’s most recent listeria outbreak was linked to rockmelons consumed last year, which left seven people dead and caused a miscarriage. TWO tortoises found tied up in a bag are set to get a new lease on life.

The Macquarie short-necked tortoises are being cared for at Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS).

Wildlife rescuer Ben Dekker discovered the tortoises in a park in Hamlyn Heights and quickly delivered the pair to GAWS.

The reptiles had a thorough vet check at the clinic to ensure they were fit and healthy.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning was expected to take the tortoises into their care yesterday.

GAWS spokeswoman Cara Kirwin said the pair were probably the first tortoises GAWS had cared for.

Tortoises have one of the longest lifespans of any animal and can live for more than 150 years. Unlike turtles, tortoises are exclusively land creatures. Tortoises are usually vegetarians but some turtles are omnivorous.

Technically all tortoises are turtles but not all turtles are tortoises.

It is hoped the rescued tortoises will come out of their shell soon.