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Bar Cleaners and Support

July 8th, 2020 by Ima Admin

DeVere offers many products made to help with keeping a clean and sanitized bar. From surface cleaners to 3rd sink sanitizers, we have everything you need to keep any bar looking the best it can. Below is a full guide to our bar cleaners and sanitizers.

Surface Cleaners and Disinfectants

QDII Sanitizer and QDII Food Service Sanitizer (Ready-to-Use) – These products are disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, mildew-stats, and virucides – all in one! They are great for disinfecting counters and are safe to use on food-contact surfaces. QDII Sanitizer also works as a 3rd sink sanitizer.

WOW All Purpose Cleaner – WOW is one of the strongest yet safest detergents made. This product is safe to use on a variety of hard surfaces and also cleans no-wax, hard floors. WOW cleans both light soils and heavy grease.

Dishwasher Products

Machine Dishwashing Liquid – This product works with our pumps and dishwashers offered in our dishwashing program (more information below). Machine Dishwashing Liquid will quickly remove all food soils and will leave all dishes, flatware, and glassware sparkling clean. This product is normally corrosive to soft metals, but you can use it with Anti-Corrosion Additive to become safe to use on aluminum and other soft metals.

Machine Dishwashing Powder – This product will remove all soils and stains from dishes, glassware, and flatware, leaving them sparkling clean. Machine Dishwashing Powder is available in capsules for automatic dispensing with our dispensers, or pails for manually putting the powder in the dishwasher.

Cleaners and Sanitizers for 3 Sink Setups

Dish Detergent – This product is a great detergent for the first sink and will penetrate the heaviest of soils after just 2-3 minutes of soaking. Dish Detergent also leaves no streaks and has a pleasant scent.

Heads Up 10 – This product is an EPA registered cleaner/disinfectant/sanitizer for use in areas where mineral soils are a challenge. Heads Up 10 is great for the 3rd sink in 3 sink setups and leaves behind a shiny, mineral free surface after sanitizing.

Dishwashers and Services

In addition to all of our amazing products, we also offer a personalized dishwashing program. Customers can choose to lease or purchase from a variety of ADS or CMA dishwashers and receive free installation, maintenance, and more! For more information, please see this flyer.

If you have any questions about any of our products or our dishwashing program, please contact us.


Industrial Dishwashing Systems

June 10th, 2020 by Ima Admin

DeVere offers a wide range of kitchen products that are sure to satisfy everyone’s dishwashing and kitchen cleaning needs, from homes to big restaurants. To learn more about our products, please visit our kitchen and deli category page. In addition to all of our amazing products, we also offer a personalized dishwashing program with a variety of industrial dishwashing systems. Customers can choose to lease or purchase from a variety of ADS or CMA dishwashers and receive free installation, maintenance, and more!

Lease

  • Choose from a variety of ADS or CMA dishwashers at competitive monthly lease rates
  • Receive FREE installation & periodic maintenance checks (based on rack usage)
  • Receive FREE emergency service for dishwasher malfunction

Purchase

  • Select a new or used ADS or CMA dishwasher and purchase it at a discounted price
  • Receive FREE delivery, installation & periodic maintenance checks (based on rack usage)
  • Receive DISCOUNTED emergency service rates for ADS or CMA dishwashers

Titan II Dishwasher Pump Features

  • Modular design allows for easy conversion from a 2 to 3 product system
  • Splash resistant ABS material for durability
  • Stainless steel mounting plate for easy installation
  • Multilingual digital display in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese
  • Digital programming for quick setup
  • Probeless alarms for liquid or dry products
  • Built-in rack counter

Dishwasher Products

  • Machine Dishwashing Liquid
    • Concentrated, low foaming detergent quickly removes soils & prevents re-disposition
    • Formulated for use in high & low temp dishwashers, glass & mug washers
    • Works in hard water; free-rinsing
  • Rinse Rite Low Suds
    • Rinse aid causes water to sheet completely off dinnerware & glasses
    • Formulated for use in high & low temp dishwashers
    • Reduces drying time; eliminates water spots
  • Sanitizer Concentrate
    • Commercial-strength EPA registered sanitizer
    • Formulated for use in low temp dishwashers
    • Has increased dinnerware de-staining power

If you have any questions about our industrial dishwashing systems or products, please see this flyer for more information or contact us.


Types of Disinfectants

May 11th, 2020 by Ima Admin

Bacteria, mold, mildew, and viruses are responsible for illnesses, bad odors, and ruined property. Disinfectants and sanitizers exist to help us mitigate these destructive actors. DeVere offers a wide range of disinfectants and sanitizers so that we have a solution to every cleaning problem. This informative post will outline how different types of disinfectants work and what their advantages and disadvantages are. All types of disinfectants have the same goal but have different ways of achieving it.

Alcohol

Alcohols are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents that damage microorganisms by denaturing proteins, causing membrane damage and cell lysis.

Advantages: 70% ethyl alcohol with a 20-minute contact time proves to be a powerful germicide effective against many pathogens.
Disadvantages: 
Alcohol is inactivated by organic matter. It evaporates quickly, making many people prefer not to use it because it may require multiple applications. May cause damage to plastics.

Our Product: Bac-San
Note that Bac-San is an FDA-regulated hand sanitizer meant to sanitize hands not surfaces.

Sodium Hypochlorite (Chlorine Bleach), Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (Organic Chlorine), and other Chlorine-donors

Chlorine compounds function through their electronegative nature to denature proteins and are considered broad-spectrum, being effective against bacteria, enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, mycobacteria, and fungi.

Advantages: Readily available and cost-effective. Effective and kills many microorganisms. A potent deodorizer.
Disadvantages: 
Irritates skin and eyes. Can discolor and damage metal surfaces. Inactivated by organic debris. Less effective in hard water. Has a limited shelf life of about 6 months under normal conditions. Will deteriorate with time and exposure to light. It does not work well on spore forms of bacteria or mycobacterium.

Our Product: Sanitizer Concentrate
Note that Chlor Foam, Chlor CIP, Lightning, and several other products contain chlorine bleach due to its cleaning ability.
Chlor Foam Powder and Chlor CIP Powder contain sodium dichloroisocyanurate and are not EPA registered.

Peroxygen Compounds (Peroxides)

Hydrogen peroxide, the superoxide ion radical, and the hydroxyl radical are intermediate products in the reduction of oxygen to water. The hydroxyl radical is said to be the strongest oxidant known, and it is by this mechanism that hydrogen peroxide is believed to do the actual killing of bacteria.

Advantages: Effective against a wide variety of organisms: bacteria, yeast, fungi, viruses, and spores. Anaerobes are even more sensitive because they do not produce catalase to break down the peroxide. In general, peroxides have greater activity against gram-negative than gram-positive bacteria. Unlike many disinfectants, peroxygen compounds are not affected by the addition of organic matter and salts.
Disadvantages: In liquid solutions, peroxygen compounds are constantly creating oxygen and typically have relatively shelf-lives while in solution. They also have no residual efficacy after being left in a solution on a surface.

Our Products: Security Floor® Sanitizer and Security Cleaner and Disinfectant
Note that Security Floor® Sanitizer theoretically lasts forever when it is used dry. We have stability studies for 10-years on this product with no loss in efficacy.

Chlorhexidine

Chlorhexidine is detrimental to microorganisms by reacting with the negatively charged groups on cell membranes which alters permeability.

Advantages: Effective against many fungi, yeast, bacteria, and some viruses. Very low toxicity to birds and humans.
Disadvantages:
Makes a poor cleaner and has decreased effectiveness in the presence of organic matter and hard water. It is not effective against several types of bacteria. Not effective against bacterial spores or mycobacterium. Will not kill hydrophilic viruses.

Tamed Iodine (Iodophors)

Iodophors are iodine complexes that have increased solubility and sustained release of iodine.  One of the more commonly used iodophors if povidone-iodine. They are good for general use and are less readily inactivated by organic matter than elemental iodine compounds. The dilution of iodophors actually increases the free iodine concentration and antimicrobial activity.

Advantages: Iodophores kill a wide range of disease-causing organisms including bacteria, fungi, many viruses, and most micro-organisms. Works well in cold, hot, and hard water. Readily available.
Disadvantages: Moderately expensive. Can stain tissues and some materials. Can cause drying and cracking of skin after prolonged use. May corrode metals with prolonged exposure. Inactivated by prolonged contact with organic matter. Does not affect hydrophilic viruses.

Our Product: Golden Sanitizer

Phenolics

Phenols are broad-spectrum disinfectants that function by denaturing proteins and inactivating membrane-bound enzymes to alter the cell wall permeability of microorganisms.

Advantages: Many products are readily available. Kills fungi, Tuberculosis, certain viruses, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas bacteria. Retains effectiveness in hard water. Does not stain surfaces or leave a residual odor. Cost-effective. 
Disadvantages:
High concentrations will burn skin, eyes, and lungs. Does not kill nonenveloped viruses, such as parvovirus, polyomavirus, papillomavirus, adenovirus, and reovirus, nor will they kill all bacteria types. Toxic to cats and possibly reptiles.

Pine Cleaner contains the phenolic pine oil and is not EPA-registered

Gluteraldehydes

Aldehydes are highly effective, broad-spectrum disinfectants, which typically achieve sterilization by denaturing proteins and disrupting nucleic acids.

Advantages: Effective against all pathogens. Equally effective in cold, hot, and hard water. Effective in the presence of organic debris. Skin irritation is minimal even at 2%. Rated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the lowest tissue irritation level possible, non-toxic, and non-teratogenic. 
Disadvantages: 
May require a medical license for purchase. EPA testing limited on animal and bird pathogens. Inadequate ventilation may result in eye and respiratory irritation in humans and birds. Prolonged contact with concentrated form may cause skin peeling and discoloration.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs or Quats)

These compounds are cationic detergents that are attracted to the negatively charged surfaces of microorganisms, where they irreversibly bind phospholipids in the cell membrane and denature proteins impairing permeability. DeVere manufactures a variety of QACs. Our team can answer detailed questions about use rates, activity, and QAC generations.

Advantages: An excellent general disinfectant. Kills both Gram-negative and positive bacteria, many viruses, and chlamydia. Cost-effective. No odor or color in pure form.
Disadvantages: Not effective against bacterial spores, fungus, non-enveloped viruses, or mycobacterium with poor Pseudomonas activity. Decreased effectiveness in the presence of organic debris and in hard water. Not easily rinsed off surfaces, often leaving a soapy residue. It causes respiratory paralysis if ingested.

Our Products: QDII Sanitizer (Ready-to-Use and Wipes), One Step, and Heads Up 10
Bac-Off contains this ingredient and is a hand sanitizer.


Industrial Laundry Systems

April 8th, 2020 by Ima Admin

DeVere offers a wide range of laundry products that are sure to satisfy everyone’s laundry needs, from homes to dairy farms. To learn more about our products, please visit our laundry product line page, or see our laundry resource page for a brief description of each product. We also offer dispensers for industrial laundry systems and services to install, calibrate, repair, and more for the dispensers.

Our FREE services for industrial facilities are:

  • Installation & calibration of dispensing equipment
  • Periodic maintenance checks of dispensers
  • Emergency service for dispenser

We offer Atlas dispensers for laundry systems. The Atlas dispensing system is a modular peristaltic pump system that allows up to six pumps and a flush system or seven pumps without a flush system. The pumps are also housed in a high impact ABS splash-resistant enclosure and are mounted to the wall with an integrated stainless steel mounting bracket system. Our dispensers are an essential piece of industrial laundry systems.

Image result for atlas laundry pumpPump features include:

  • Three modes of operation (formula select, relay, and sequence)
  • 30-formula capability (unused formulas may be disabled)
  • Lockout
  • Load count
  • EDSM (enhanced digital select module)
  • Auto-calibrate
  • Bleach defeat function
  • Program storage
  • Password protection
  • Quick change pump design

To see some of our service technicians and learn about their experience and history, visit our team page. If you have any questions, please contact us for more information.


When to Use QACs

February 12th, 2020 by Ima Admin

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs or quats) are often used to kill microorganisms in food production, food service, health care, and other environments. Their flexibility of application, residual efficacy, and mild odor make them an attractive choice when picking a disinfectant. Recently, subinhibitory levels of QACs have been shown to lead to microorganisms that are resistant to this biocide called superbugs (see the article from August here).

DeVere offers a wide range of cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants. Some of these contain QACs. This post will help clear up any confusion regarding when and when not to use them.

When to use QACs

Improper use of QACs can lead to superbugs. Proper use can make them one of the most efficient tools available in our war against pathogens. Generally, QACs can be used to disinfect flat, hard surfaces where the product will not end up in a drain or on the floor. For example, they work well when sanitizing desks, tables, food processing surfaces, and windowsills (primarily for mold inhibition).

QACs also work well as sanitizers in the 3rd sink in bars and other foodservice areas with 3-sink setups. 3rd sink applications will eventually send the QAC to the drain undiluted. The undiluted part is the key. The idea here is that they do not last long in a subinhibitory concentration before other materials in the sewer or septic system deactivate them.

One Step Quaternary Cleaner and Disinfectant and QDII Sanitizer are two of DeVere’s QAC-based products and are often used when sanitizing and disinfecting flat surfaces. See their product pages for more details on the product and when to use them.

QACs are generally not great cleaners on their own, but many of our products that contain them are great cleaners. Products like Restroom Cleaner and Deodorizer contain QACs to help deodorize and make surfaces safe for human use.

When not to use QACs

If you plan on sanitizing or disinfecting entryways, floors, or drains, we do not recommend QACs. This includes quat rings, door foamers, powdered quat, and any other application where the product will be slowly diluted while exposed to pathogens. Much like they can evolve immunity to antibiotics, bacteria and viruses can evolve resistances to QACs. The resistances are formed when there is not enough QAC present to kill pathogens and enough to react. See this article for references and more information.

Security Floor Treatment and Security Floor Sanitizer are DeVere’s top alternatives to QACs and use oxidizers as primary active ingredients. Pathogens cannot build resistance to oxidizers. This means that these products are perfect for use on floors and around drains. To learn more about each product, you can visit their product pages, and see this post to learn about the differences between each product.


Concentrates vs. Ready to Use

November 13th, 2019 by Ima Admin

DeVere offers a wide range of products in our attempt to please all customers. One subcategory that each of our products falls into is concentrates vs. ready to use cleaners. Most ready to use cleaners have a concentrated version that makes the same product after dilution. Each cleaner has its advantages and we are here to help make it easier for you to decide which is best for your situation. Below is a list of differences between concentrates and ready to use cleaners.

Price:

Generally, concentrates are more expensive than ready to use cleaners per gallon. This is because the concentrate has more cleaning chemicals in it, and ready to use cleaners are already diluted to the optimal use concentration. For products like Window Cleaner and Window Cleaner Concentrate, the concentrate will be more expensive per bottle and less expensive per use. Packaging also increases the price. The more packaging per use, the more the cost per use. Smaller packages cost more per unit volume than larger packages. Aerosols are generally the most expensive and most convenient form of cleaning product. Concentrated chemicals are the most economical form in terms of cost-per-use.

Usage:

As stated before, concentrates have less water than ready to use products. In this case, more cleaning chemical is not always better. DeVere products require water to work properly. The cleaning chemicals will dissolve/remove the soils and the water will act as the solvent to carry the soils away.

Ease of Use:

Most of the time, ready to use cleaners and aerosols are easier to use than concentrates. It takes less time to clean with ready to use cleaners because there is no need to dilute. Ready to use cleaners also typically come with sprayers or flip top caps to make cleaning even easier.

Environmental Concerns:

In general, the more concentrated the product, the less packaging (usually plastic) and energy (manufacturing and freight) are needed to clean. DeVere’s line of concentrated products is designed to be as environmentally helpful as possible. These products clean and sanitize surfaces to remove harmful soils and pathogens while minimizing the environmental impact of packaging and shipping.

Product Sizes:

Concentrates typically come in 1-gallon jugs, 4 x 1-gallon cases, 5-gallon pails, 55-gallon drums, or some combination thereof. Ready to use cleaners typically come in quarts and cases of multiple quart bottles with convenient applicators. Occasionally, ready to use cleaners will come in gallons, but generally nothing bigger. Aerosols come in cans (generally 18-19 oz) and cases of multiple cans. If you need an easily portable bottle for the cleaner, then a ready to use cleaner may be the best for you. If you need a lot of the cleaner for commercial or industrial applications, then a concentrate may be the best. DeVere supplies reusable bottles and sprayers for most concentrated cleaners.

Example: Citrus, Citrus Ready to Use, Citrus Plus Foaming Cleaner

  • One gallon of Citrus will make 32 quarts of Citrus Ready to Use.
  • You will get the most value out of Citrus because you are getting more cleaner.
  • Citrus Ready to Use and Citrus Plus will be the easiest to use because you do not need to take the extra step to dilute the product.
  • Citrus is available in gallons and larger sizes, Citrus Ready to Use is available in quarts, and Citrus Plus is available in 19 oz cans.

If you have any questions about concentrates vs. ready to use or any of our products, please contact us.


Clean with DeVere App

October 9th, 2019 by Ima Admin

DeVere has a new app! The app suggests cleaners for you that will best help you in your situation after you answer a short series of simple questions. After the app picks the cleaner for you, you will be able to learn more about it and visit the online store page for that product. Follow these simple steps to find the perfect cleaner for you now:

  1. Search “Clean with DeVere” in the Google Play Store or click the “Get it on Google Play” button.
  2. Launch the app and press the “Start” button
  3. Answer the questions and the app will recommend a cleaner(s) that best fit your situation
  4. If you want, you can press “Learn more about [product name]” to see a brief description of the product
  5. Press “See On Website” to go to the product page on our website to see a full description and order the product

For a more in-depth guide and an example run-through with pictures, please refer to this guide.


New Features Include:

  • A calculator that converts dollars per gallon of concentrated product to dollars per ready-to-use quart.
  • An interactive map of a convenience store that will provide a list of cleaners that would work best based on the location in the store that you select.

If you get the app, please leave a review. Your thoughts are important to us because we want to make sure everyone is satisfied with the app. We are open to any suggestions and criticism.

NOTE: This app is more geared towards residential and commercial products and will not recommend industrial products. It will recommend high-strength, industrial-grade products, but only if they are available to order through our website.

If you ever have any questions about which product to use, you can check out the Clean with DeVere app, or, of course, you can always contact us.


Powders vs. Liquids

September 4th, 2019 by Ima Admin

Powders vs. Liquids: One of the main choices when picking a cleaning product is the form. In this informational post, we cover many of the differences between the powder and liquid forms of cleaners.

DeVere offers a wide range of products in our attempt to please all customers. One subcategory that each of our products falls into is powders vs. liquids. Some products even have the same purpose, but one is a powder and the other is a liquid.

Powder chemical products typically have the following advantages:

  • Ultra concentrated: Shipping these products do not require shipping water.
  • Environmentally-friendly packaging: From fiber drums to boxes, these products tend to require less plastic packaging.
  • Variety of use possibilities: You can pour powders directly on surfaces (e.g. Degrease Powder or Blacktop & Concrete Cleaner) or diluted in water before use (all DeVere powdered cleaners).
  • Easy handling: Products like Security Floor Sanitizer can simply be scooped out of drums and transported to the point of use.  The handling does not require a sealed transfer container or pumps.

Liquid chemical products typically have the following advantages:

  • Available concentrated or ready to use: We can make these products available as a concentrate for dilution with water or ready to use as a cleaner, disinfectant, or sanitizer.
  • Easily dispensed: Use any DeVere’s dispensers, pipelines, or pumps to dose, transfer, and/or meter liquid chemicals.

Below is a list of some examples of our products that have both liquid and powder versions with the differences.

Chlor Foam vs. Chlor Foam Powder

These industrial, high-foam built alkaline detergents are designed for challenging foam and manual cleaning applications where high foam characteristics are desirable. They have similar uses and chemistry, but slightly different methods of application. Diluting powders and liquids is slightly different. You should use 1-2 oz. of Chlor Foam per gallon of water, while you should use Chlor Foam Powder at 0.5-2% concentration in water, so the measurements are a bit different.

Machine Dishwashing Liquid vs. Machine Dishwashing Powder

These are probably the most different out of any liquid/powder pair. You should only use Machine Dishwashing Liquid in industrial settings, while you could use Machine Dishwashing Powder (MDP) in residential, commercial, or industrial dishwashers. MDP contains a small amount of chlorine to remove protein-based stains. MDP is available in capsules for automatic dispensing in industrial dishwashers, but also can come in pails for manually putting the powder in the dishwasher. Finally, the Machine Dishwashing Liquid can be used with Anti-Corrosion Additive to make it safe to use on aluminum and other soft metals.

Boost Laundry Detergent vs. Boost Powder Laundry Detergent

These are fairly similar and mostly go back to the general points mentioned above. Boost Laundry Detergent and Boost Powder Laundry Detergent are moderately-foaming laundry detergents that can be used for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The liquid is available in a wider range of product sizes. Liquids will not always have more available sizes, but product size and how much you need is something to consider.

If you have any questions about powders vs. liquids, please visit the store pages above for more specific information about each individual product, or contact us with any questions.


Considerations for Reduced Usage of QACs

August 14th, 2019 by Ima Admin

Considerations for Reduced Usage of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds in Food Production and Healthcare Environments

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs or quats) are cationic, broad-spectrum antimicrobials that are widely used in food production and healthcare environments. Their low odor profile, ability to be used on soft metals, foaming capability and residual efficacy has made quats a biocide of choice for a variety of applications in these industries. However, the increase in resistance of microorganisms to QACs and the potential link between biocide resistance and antibiotic resistance has created the need to reevaluate the usage of these compounds in some sanitizer and disinfection treatments.

At low concentrations, QACs work by creating ‘holes’ in the cell membrane that cause the cell contents to leak out. At higher concentrations, they also target the carboxylic groups of the microbe and cause general coagulation within the cell.1 There are several well-characterized efflux pumps in adapted microbes that can make low concentrations of quats ineffective by simply pumping them out of the cell. Additionally, some gram-negative microorganisms have demonstrated an adaptive response to environmental stress that results in changes in the cell wall composition causing impermeability, which prevents the penetration of QACs into the cells.1  Of particular concern is the use of subinhibitory levels of QACs which may induce these adaptive responses in microbes.

“Microorganisms are the prime example of ‘survival of the fittest’, having continuously evolved to thrive in their ever-changing environments for billions of years. Because of this, scientists are constantly on the lookout for pathogens that may emerge and/or adapt in ways that make it difficult for currently available technologies to control them and render them particularly harmful to human health” said Crystal Maira, Principal at SciTech Consulting LLC. Some recent examples include Clostridium difficile, Candida auris and Listeria monocytogenes.

  1. C. difficile and C. auris are two emerging pathogens that have become a fundamental concern in the healthcare industry. Infection with either organism is extremely difficult to get rid of and patients with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk for contracting a hospital-acquired infection (HAI). It has been reported that “some medical facilities have had to replace floor and ceiling tiles to remove all traces of the organisms from patient rooms.”2 C. difficile is a spore-forming bacterium for which the spores have a very high resistance to conventional biocides. Exposure of C. diff planktonic cells to quats may stress the organism which facilitates formation of the spore state. Candida auris is a fungus that has recently emerged as a very serious threat in healthcare settings. In a 2017 commentary on the fungus C. auris given by Dr. Tom Chiller of the CDC, he stated: “This hardy yeast can live on surfaces for a month or more, and preliminary testing suggests that quaternary ammonium compounds commonly used for healthcare disinfection may not be sufficiently effective against C. auris.3 While quats are effective general hospital disinfectants, the CDC recommends that EPA-registered products with claims against C. difficile be utilized in areas where C. auris is present until there are hospital disinfectant products registered with a specific C. auris claim.4

Listeria monocytogenes is a zero-tolerance organism that is a frequent problem encountered in food processing facilities. It is often found in environmental niches, floors, walls and drains and QACs are typically used to sanitize these surfaces. However, as Martinez-Suárez, et al. reported, dilution in the environment with water and organic matter results in QAC concentration gradients and “in certain cases, the relationship between low-level resistance and the environmental persistence of L. monocytogenes in different food production chains has been previously established.”5 Furthermore, investigations of listeriosis outbreaks usually trace the contamination source back to the processing environment and equipment. Thus, it is believed that the persistence of certain strains of L. monocytogenes even after cleaning and sanitizing is related to different situations that result in subinhibitory sanitizer concentrations and in turn adaption of the organism to the sanitizer(s) through genetic changes.5 The growing number of cases demonstrating a low-level resistance of QACs and persistence of L. monocytogenes in the food processing environments, it is recommended that technologies other than quats be utilized to sanitize areas where further dilution with water is likely, such as floors and drains.

The possibility of cross-resistance exists when both a biocide and antibiotics induce cell death via the same pathway or target.6 As such, the proper use of sanitizers and disinfectants, including the pre-cleaning of surfaces and using the indicated concentration and contact time, is essential. Akile Ozkan stated, “If subinhibitory concentrations are used, it will exert a selective pressure on the microorganism leading to the activation of stress responses. The end result of this would be a change in gene expression which will lead to superbugs that are resistant to disinfectants, while being unresponsive to antibiotics.”7 With some changes to sanitizing and disinfection protocols in the food and healthcare industries, it is hoped that this situation can be avoided.

 

References:

  1. To, M.; Favrin, S.; Romanova, N.; Griffiths, M. Postadapational resistance to Benzalkonium chloride and subsequent physiochemical modifications of Listeria monocytogenes. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68: 5258-5264.
  2. net. Emerging Super Fungus: Beginning of An Epidemic? April 9, 2019. https://www.worldhealth.net/news/emerging-super-fungus-beginning-epidemic/ (accessed on June 3, 2019)
  3. CDC Commentary. The Unexpected and Troubling Rise of Candida auris. August 24, 2017. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/884470 (accessed on June 5, 2019)
  4. United States Environmental Protection Agency. New Guidance on Environmental Control of Candida auris with Antimicrobial Pesticides. February 17, 2017. https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/new-guidance-environmental-control-candida-auris-antimicrobial-pesticides (accessed on June 6, 2019)
  5. Marteinez-Suárez JV, Ortiz S, López-Alonzo V. (2016) Potential Impact of the Resistance to Quaternary Ammonium Disinfectants on the Persistence of Listeria monocytogenes in Food Processing Environments. Front. Microbiol. 7:638. Doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00638.
  6. Chapman, J. Disinfectant resistance mechanisms, cross-resistance and co-resistance. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegradation. 51: 271-276.
  7. Ozkan, A. Disinfectants as a double-edged sword: Are disinfectants promoting antimicrobial resistance? Catalyst. 3: 18-25.

 

Note of Appreciation:

Thank you to Crystal Maira, Principal at SciTech Consulting LLC for her work in putting this article together.  Her expertise and resolve to improve our industry made this possible.

If you have any questions about the article or any of our products, please contact us.


Security Floor Treatment vs. Security Floor Sanitizer

July 10th, 2019 by Ima Admin


Security Floor® Treatment and Security Floor® Sanitizer are powdered, QAC-free products for use in entryways, on floors, and around/in drains. These products are available throughout the United States and a handful of other countries. Both products improve facility hygiene and comply with USDA and FDA guidelines.

Both products…

  • Are backed by nearly a decade of research, independent studies, and use in some of the world’s most successful food production facilities
  • Are QAC-free, meaning they do not contain quaternary ammonium chlorides, which have been shown by the U.S. National Institute of Health and others to create superbugs and are not effective when used dry
  • Can be registered with an organic certification agency
  • Work as an entryway control, as a floor treatment, and in drain care

Given that both products have nearly identical formulas and uses, what is the difference?

  • Security Floor Treatment was registered with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).
  • Security Floor Sanitizer is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Security Floor Treatment was registered with OMRI until they changed their policy and stopped reviewing sanitizers (link). We can still use the registration status to ease approval from certified organic production or food processing and handling. This product was registered under the “Processing Products: Sanitizers, Disinfectants and Cleaners” category which OMRI no longer updates.

 

epa logo, security floor sanitizer

 

Security Floor Sanitizer is EPA-registered, meaning it has been tested using the Non-Food Contact Surface Sanitizer Test and proven effective against the following organisms:

Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC 15313)
Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 13048)
Salmonella enterica (ATCC 10708)
Cronobacter sakazakii (ATCC 29544) 

Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229)
Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 12386)

Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538)

If you have any questions, please visit the store pages for Security Floor Treatment and Security Floor Sanitizer, or contact us for more information.