The food industry is a multi-billion dollar business, with millions of consumers every day. With so many consumers and such high demand, sometimes the practice of safe,clean, food handling may not be as efficient as it should be. This can pave the way for the possibility of bacterial outbreaks, epidemics, foodborne illness, as well as commonly, E. coli. So for those in this industry, here are some safe practices that you should adhere to during the manufacturing and distributing process.

• Keep crops out of direct contact with animals in order to avoid animal waste mixing with your garden before they are harvested and handled. Practice safe water irrigation, manage animal waste, and pick a strategic location for produce.

• Ensure extremely clean conditions during the processing and preparation stage- Always wash your hands, as well as all fruit and vegetables during preparation. Cleaning and and sanitizing cutting boards is a must, as this is where many pathogens and bacteria reside and can be contracted. Make sure to spray down these types of surfaces with cleaners such as a bleach/water mix, or use natural sanitizers such as CitroBio to cleanse the area.

• Applying another line of defense in the cultivation and manufacturing process- Scientist have developed an E.coli treatment with the use of "bacteriophages" which are a certain class of virus that will attack the desired bacteria and single celled organisms and destroy their protective membranes. While this process has not been perfected it is in the works as an effective natural sanitization measure, and has proved useful in emergencies by containing and destroying bacterial outbreaks.

• Cook ground meats to 160 degrees fahrenheit to ensure no bacteria will survive this vital process. E. Coli can survive in frozen temperatures, so this is why it is best to cook meat thoroughly after taking it out of a freezer or cooler.

• Apply a fresh food wash with safe food sanitizers- This is one of the most effectice finishing measures in safe food handling and should always be applied before a product is released into the market. Companies such as CitroBio provide natural harmless ingredients to humans that will intercept any threatening organisms that remain in food products.
   So, there it is.Taking these 5 steps to sanitizing and purifyng your food source is not only good for the consumers health, but also great for business as well. Check out a few of our products here that can help you prevent E. Coli contamination.

The 10 Most Clean Produce Available

1. Imported Avocados

2. Domestic Corn

3. Pineapples

4. Cabbage

5. Peas

6. Scallions (Green Onions)

7. Asparagus

8. Mangoes

9. Papayas

10. Kiwi

The 10 Least Clean Produce Items

The list of produce most likely to be contaminated may surprise you. Of particular interest is the fact that these are also some of the more common items used in food processing, put into salads or eaten as snacks by people on the go. CitroBio has a solution that  eliminates most contamination when you clean produce.

1. Domestic Apples

2. Domestic Strawberries

3. Grapes

4. Celery

5. Peaches

6. Leafy Spinach

7. Green Bell Peppers

8. Nectarines

9. Cucumbers

10. Cherry Tomatoes

In case you were wondering, Potatoes came in at number 12 of the least clean produce, and lettuce at number 15. Pears, which are used as the primary fruit in many items that “contain real fruit,” were only a little less dirty, ranking at number 20. Squash, green beans, and carrots all ranked on the “dirty” side of a list of more than 50 produce items, along with tomatoes, snap peas, broccoli and bananas.

CitroBio is the Affordable Solution

CitroBio has developed a line of products that use the antibacterial properties of citrus to protect and clean produce. The idea is to keep food fresh and increase the healthiness without adding harmful chemicals. In food processing, packaging, and production, the CitroBio Food Wash can be used as a fast and effective method of removing contaminants without changing color or flavor.  Your company can protect its reputation and the health of the end-consumer by using the CitroBio products in your facilities to clean produce before it is shipped.

IFT is the Institute of Food Technologists. Over 18,000 of the world's top food science and technology representatives will be representing the most prominent organizations of the global food sector in New Orleans this summer for the 2014 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo.

At the IFT Food Expo, you'll find the industry's largest collection of food ingredients, equipment, processing, and packaging suppliers, all under one roof. It's the only place where the latest global food trends, and the products designed to address them, are on display.

For professionals involved in food science and technology, the IFT Food Expo is the single most important trade show of the year. That’s why two out of every three people who attend the Food Expo are repeat attendees. They know from personal experience that it’s THE best place to see, touch, taste, and experience the newest products, the latest trends, the hottest tools, and most cutting-edge techniques…and meet face-to-face with the companies that provide them.

Over 1.5 Million Turkeys Per Year Processed with CitroBio using this unique,cost saving, highly efficient poultry misting system.

The Diestel Family story began with range growing turkeys in 1949 on our ranch nestled in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Today, they produce 1.5 million turkeys per year.

Now using CitroBio on all their birds, based on the results of the following tests for shelf life.

SWAB TEST ON BIRDS WITH AND WITHOUT CITRUS EXTRACT (CitroBio) FOR SHELF LIFE

Tested for Total Plate Counts (TPC's).

On 6-10-99 a twenty (20) bird swab test was performed. Ten of the birds swabbed were sprayed with citrus extract the other ten birds were not so sprayed. The birds were numbered and swabbed twice at different dates so as to form a comparison base between growth rates of total plate counts (TPC's) from each date. This test was performed with shelf life as follows:

The results for the test performed on 6-10-99 are as follows:

Ten birds were swabbed at the bagging table after being sprayed with CitroBio:

1 79.33 mpn/cm2
2 45.00 mpn/cm2
3 41.67 mpn/cm2
4 63.33 mpn/cm2
5 66.67 mpn/cm2
6 71.67 mpn/cm2
7 38.33 mpn/cm2
8 46.67 mpn/cm2
9 46.67 mpn/cm2
10 38.33 mpn/cm2

Ten other birds were swabbed at bagging table after chlorination and chilling

Test #

11 100.00 mpn/cm2
12 93.33 mpn/cm2
13 3 66.67 mpn/cm2
14 153.33 mpn/cm2
15 206.67 mpm/cm2
16 136.67 mpn/cm2
17 193,33 mpn/cm2
18 83.83 mpn/cm2
19 248.33 mpn/cm2
20 295.00 mpn/cm2

On 7-22-99 started opening birds for shelf life test. Two birds were swabbed each workday: one with citrus extract, the other without. the dates and results of the final swabs are as follows:

Birds 1-10 WITH CitroBio

Test # Date Swabbed Result
1. 7-13-99 100.00 mpn/cm2
2. 7-7-99 63.33 mpn/cm2
3. 7-8-99 44.17 mpn/cm2
4. 7-12-99 66.67 mpn/cm2
5. 7-19-99 71.63 mpn/cm2
6. 7-15-99 79.33 mpn/cm2
7. 7-22-99 55.00 mpn/cm2
8. 7-16-99 63.33 mpn/cm2
9. 7-6-99 58.33 mpn/cm2
10. 7-20-99 45.00 mpn/cm2

Birds 11-20 WITHOUT CitroBio

11. 7-6-99 110.00 mpn/cm2
12. 7-7-99 100.00 mpn/cm2
13. 7-8-99 366.67 mpn/cm2
14. 7-12-99 163.33 mpn/cm2
15. 7-19-99 248.30 mpn/cm2
16. 7-15-99 172.50 mpn/cm2
17. 7-22-99 204.16 mpn/cm2
18. 7-16-99 93.33 mpn/cm2
19. 7-6-99 260.00 mpn/cm2
20. 7-20-99 307.50 mpn/cm2

After completion of the shelf life test (42 days duration), all birds remained in excellent condition. the TPC's were significantly lower on the birds treated with citrus extract than on those not so treated. In addition, the birds treated with citrus extract had a much better smell than those not so treated.

Based on the accumulated statistics, I believe that the citrus extract offers more days of shelf life. The last two birds tested were kept an extra three days, making them forty-five days old. #16 began to develop a bad color. #7 still had a good smell.

One way Diestel ensures the quality of its product is by controlling the entire process, from breeding to shipment. The small, independent turkey company relies on its own breeders, growing facility, and processing and production regimen, along with all-natural vegetable feed, to raise top-quality turkeys.In addition to being in control of the entire process, Diestel recently began using an all-natural germicide, called CitroBio, which is diluted to specification and then misted onto the turkey carcasses as one of the last steps before bagging.Tim Diestel, Owner of the ranch, says, "We found it [CitroBio] to be beneficial to take the whole body of the turkey and mist it on," adding that they have been using CitroBio for a year. "Through testing in our own lab, we have shown a 50% to 70% reduction in bacteria counts."

"We didn't have anything to apply to the birds, but we knew we wanted something that was a natural product," Diestel says. "CitroBio is a 'no brainer' in that respect. Plus, it gives us an edge."

CitroBio – Poultry

CitroBio can be used throughout the entire process.
Application begins before the egg is hatched until the consumer prepares the bird.
CitroBio filtrated into the poultry watering system reduces the need for antibiotics,
improves growth and yields a healthier consumer product.
CitroBio can be spray dried and added to animal feed.
CitroBio combined with scent reducer can be misted in the growing areas to reduce smell while cleansing. CitroBio will then be used in every phase of the poultry slaughtering process, to the cleaning of equipment, floors, etc. It has been proven to extend the shelf life and quality of treated poultry by adding the solution to chilling tanks and/or misting on the birds prior to final packaging.

CitroBio – Beef/Pork

Same application with the exception that CitroBio can be spray dried and concentrated to add to feed naturally in the animals.
CitroBio can be used in every phase of the slaughtering process, including the cleaning of equipment, floors, countertops, etc.

CitroBio for Vegetables and Fruits

CitroBio can be used in the pre‐harvest stage as germicide. It also reduces fungus and treats crops.
In the post‐harvest CitroBio can be filtrated into misting system and sprayed before storage to control
bacteria and to ensured freshness.

Commercial Ordering of CitroBio Products

For commercial orders of CitroBio please call 1.800.332.1647. CitroBio can be ordered in many different quantities and package sizes. By calling CitroBio we can customize orders to your specific needs saving you money.
You can also email us with your order or questions at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.