Ozone has become a valuable tool to ensure food safety in the seafood processing industry, just like in other food processing sectors.In fact, the commercial seafood industry provides a wide range of potential applications for ozone, surpassing many agricultural based food industries.Its benefits are not limited to food safety, but also include fish farming (aquaculture), storage, ozone ice, and even odor control during processing operations.
Historically, the seafood industry has relied heavily on traditional hygiene methods, mainly using chlorine dissolved in washing and washing water.Although chlorine is widely used, its effect on the eradication of bacteria on the surface of seafood is limited, as proved by the research conducted.In addition, the potential odor and negative health effects associated with chlorine by-products have prompted people to look for improved hygiene methods.In 2001, the use of ozone in food production was accepted and recognized as safe (GRAS), which promoted the extensive research and implementation of ozone based solutions in commercial seafood processing.
The use of ozone has shown benefits in the following areas of seafood processing:
Aquaculture:
With the steady growth of the global population, the demand for commercially grown seafood has become critical to supplement the supply of wild seafood caught from oceans and lakes.In this pursuit, the use of ozone in aquaculture has become a very effective solution, bringing many benefits to sustainable seafood production.
A significant advantage of ozone in aquaculture is that it can reduce water consumption by promoting water reuse.By implementing ozone technology, aquaculture facilities can treat and recover water, greatly reducing the need for excessive freshwater intake.This not only saves valuable resources, but also contributes to the overall sustainability of operations.
In addition, ozone has been shown to help reduce diseases in hatcheries and aquaculture ponds.The application of ozone in aquaculture systems helps to reduce the spread of pathogens and harmful microorganisms, thus making fish populations healthier.By creating an environment that is not suitable for the growth of pathogenic factors, ozone helps to improve the overall health and welfare of aquatic species being farmed.
Clean water plays a vital role in the growth and development of aquaculture organisms.Ensure that the original water conditions are maintained, free of contaminants and contaminants.This clean water environment is conducive to the faster growth of fish or aquatic organisms.In addition, the use of ozone promotes feed utilization, thus reducing feed rate and production costs.The improvement of nutrient absorption efficiency contributes to sustainable aquaculture practice.
By incorporating ozone into aquaculture business, we can meet the growing demand for seafood, while giving priority to resource protection, disease prevention and efficient production practices.Ozone is a game changer in the field of aquaculture, which has completely changed the way we can sustainably grow and harvest seafood.
Seafood storage:
In various commercial applications, fish and other types of seafood are usually transported and stored alive before being processed in special centers.This critical phase of the seafood supply chain provides an opportunity to use the power of ozone for effective storage and transportation.
In this case, ozone plays a vital role by being included in the storage water for live seafood.By introducing ozone into the storage water, the risk of cross contamination of bacteria and viruses can be significantly reduced.This preventive measure helps to reduce the presence of harmful microorganisms to a great extent, thus ensuring that the processing center receives seafood with low bacterial load.
The use of ozone in the storage water of live seafood has several important benefits.First, it helps to maintain the quality and freshness of seafood during transportation.Ozone has powerful disinfection properties, which can neutralize potential pathogens that may exist in the stored water and protect the health and integrity of live seafood.
Secondly, ozone effectively reduces the bacterial load in the storage water, thus helping to greatly reduce the bacteria entering the processing center.By reducing bacterial contamination, the risk of cross contamination and subsequent foodborne diseases can be reduced to ensure that processing facilities operate under good sanitary standards.
In addition, the application of ozone in stored water helps to improve the overall safety and quality of processed seafood.By implementing ozone as a preventive measure early in the supply chain, seafood processors can improve their ability to provide consumers with safe and hygienic products.
It is worth noting that ozone technology in the storage and transportation of live seafood is a proactive approach, consistent with the industry's growing concern for food safety and quality assurance.Ozone can greatly reduce the risk of bacteria and viruses, not only enhancing the integrity of seafood, but also enhancing consumers' confidence in the products they consume.
By incorporating ozone into the storage water of live seafood, the industry can effectively reduce the possibility of pollution and ensure that the seafood entering the processing center has the highest quality possible.This measure strengthens the commitment to food safety and helps maintain the reputation of seafood suppliers as reliable suppliers of fresh, safe and high-quality products.
Ozone ice:
Ozone ice is produced by dissolving ozone in water and freezing it, thus producing ice that retains ozone.This technology provides many benefits for maintaining the freshness and quality of seafood.It is usually used for fishing boats to maintain high-quality fish during long distance voyages, and is widely popular in land and sea fresh operations and fish farms.Ozone ice helps regulate temperature, prevent deterioration, provide continuous antibacterial protection, extend the shelf life of seafood, and ensure that it reaches consumers in good condition.Innovative solutions such as ozone ice are adopted to enable the seafood industry to meet consumer needs, reduce waste and provide high-quality products.
Ozone ice is a continuous source of ozone, providing continuous antibacterial protection throughout the storage period.The ozone released by ice interacts with the surrounding air and water to neutralize potential pathogens and reduce bacterial growth.
Antibacterial intervention:
The approval of the US Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration for direct contact between ozone and food has aroused great interest in ozone as an antibacterial intervention in food processing (including fish and seafood).Ozone can be dissolved in water to form a stable, safe and easy to control ozone aqueous solution.This solution can replace chlorine as an antibacterial agent or supplement the existing water flushing agent to improve the effectiveness of antibacterial intervention.
Research shows that ozone water has a significant impact on reducing the number of bacterial cells in seafood processing.For example, when it is used to process whole fish, it causes the bacterial cell count to decrease from more than 5000 without ozone to less than 932 with ozone.Similarly, the cell count of fish fillets obtained from ozone fish was low, ranging from 120 to 190, while the cell count of untreated fish fillets (conventional treatment) was 7500 to 5000.
These findings extend to specific applications such as commercial catfish processing, among which the implementation of ozone water in the fish fillet machine resulted in a significant reduction in the total number of plates from 14906 to 2975.
The use of ozone in seafood processing provides a promising alternative to traditional antimicrobial agents.It has proven its efficacy in significantly reducing bacterial contamination and improving food safety.By incorporating ozone aqueous solutions into all stages of seafood processing, including washing, pretreatment and ice packaging, processors can achieve enhanced antimicrobial intervention and maintain higher quality standards throughout the production chain.
The application of ozone in catfish processing and other seafood processing operations are paving the way for more sustainable and effective practices in the industry.The use of ozone technology helps to make seafood safer, greatly reduces dependence on traditional chemicals, and meets the growing demand of consumers for environmental protection and healthy food choices.
Surface sanitation:
Ozone dissolved in water provides a universal solution for surface sanitation of seafood processing plants.It is widely used to effectively disinfect various equipment and surfaces used in seafood processing areas, including fillet machines, cutting tables and knives.By using ozone in water, the entire processing plant can be thoroughly disinfected to ensure a hygienic environment for seafood production.
The application of ozone in surface hygiene is not only limited to the seafood industry, but also applied to the entire food processing industry.The usual practice is to disinfect the goods with ozone to ensure that the surface of the transported food is kept clean and free of potential pollutants.This shows that ozone technology has been widely used as a reliable and effective method to maintain food safety standards.
Ozone has been widely used in the processing of marine products. If you have other applications, please contact Tonglin at any time.