Agri-Neo exploring new categories for Neo-Pure
The firm said in pilot tests it has replicated on nuts the same results as on seeds and grains.
Neo-Pure is a liquid solution from plants that uses oxygen to kill bacteria on low-moisture foods without changing qualities of the food.
The company is working with a North American processor of cashews and macadamia nuts on scalability and towards commercial introduction of the new food categories with other partners.
Working with academic institutions, Neo-Pure has been validated to provide a 5-log reduction of pathogens, like Salmonella.
Customers include Everspring Farms, Pacific Grain & Foods, Hempco, Sungistix and Savita Naturals.
Rob Wong, Agri-Neo president and COO, said seeds and grains present unique safety challenges.
"Under FSMA, producers, processors and even retailers all need to demonstrate they are implementing proactive, preventive measures to address food safety concerns.
“With growing consumer demand for chia, flax, sunflower, quinoa and other seeds and grains in raw and ready-to-eat forms, it is no surprise that – absent a standard food safety intervention – these products have all been implicated in recent recalls because of microbial contamination.”
The firm started commercializing it in 2014 but launched officially at the IFT this year.
Wong told our sister site that heat can destroy proteins in wheat, ethylene oxide can leave a residue and labelling X-ray has been used can put off consumers.
