Ecolab scoops IFT innovation award for zero trans fat cleaner
The US-based company last week received an Innovation Award at the annual IFT Food Expo in New Orleans for it sanitation product Exelerate ZTF.
"Ecolab developed Exelerate ZTF as part of our ongoing efforts to deliver the solutions food processors need to produce safer, high-quality products and measurably improve operational efficiency,” said Timothy P. Mulhere, senior vice president and general manager, Ecolab Food & Beverage North America.
The increasing take up of using zero trans fat oils to bake or fry food has led to an unexpected problem, as they leave a coating on processing equipment and food contact surfaces that is difficult to remove.
The company said its product helps food processors remove zero trans fat residue from processing equipment and surfaces in “half the time of other cleaning methods”. The product is applied in a gel and clings to the surface to dissolve zero trans fat soils, making it easier to clean.
The awards – which recognise outstanding innovation in products, ingredients, applications, equipment, instruments, technology and services - were handed out by a nine-member jury from industry and academia. Some 53 entries were reviewed based on their degree of innovation, technical advancement, benefit to food manufacturers and/or consumers and scientific merit.
"As food processors made the switch to using zero trans fat oils, they discovered that removal of polymerized soils from processing equipment and environmental surfaces was difficult and time-consuming," said Jeff Montanye, vice president, research and development, Ecolab Food and Beverage. "Exelerate ZTF has been proven to reduce the cleaning time by as much as 50 percent, helping processors reduce downtime and improve plant productivity and efficiency."
This article has been amended to include the word 'zero' in the headline and introduction (Ed)
