Ensuring Food Safety with the DES-Controller: A bio-indicator for verification of pasteurization and hygiene in the food industry
In this blog:
The DES-controller is widely used as a reliable bio-indicator for monitoring washing processes, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) room disinfection, and validating and verifying sterilizers and autoclaves. In addition to these established applications, DES-controllers are successfully utilized to verify pasteurization processes and ensure food safety in temperature-sensitive operations, even meeting stringent standards such as FSSC 22000.
Verification of pasteurization processes using DES-controllers
Many production processes in the food industry require strict temperature controls, particularly for protein-containing products. Excessive heat can lead to protein denaturation, negatively affecting product quality. One example comes from a client who pasteurizes their products at 68°C for 72 hours. These products are intended for vulnerable consumer groups, such as individuals with compromised immune systems, making it critical to guarantee sterility and microbiological safety.
During periodic validation of this pasteurization process, traditional laboratory analyses are complemented by the use of DES-controllers as bio-indicators, together with calibrated temperature loggers such as our TELID temperature loggers. These validations have demonstrated a clear correlation between the microbial reduction measured by DES-controllers and the microbiological quality of the final product. This enables cost-effective, ongoing verification of the process using DES-controllers, thereby enhancing the assurance of food safety.
Hygiene monitoring in the herb drying process with DES-controllers
Herbs naturally carry a high microbial load. When pasteurizing herbs, in this example controlled heating up to approximately 80 – 85°C is applied, while avoiding higher temperatures that could cause quality loss through overdrying. DES-controllers are strategically positioned at various locations within the drying chamber to objectively measure the effectiveness of the disinfection process.
This approach results in reliable, continuous verification of microbial reduction, which is essential for managing microbial risks in products often consumed by at-risk populations.
DES-controllers as an integral part of quality management and food safety systems
Beyond laboratory analyses for factors such as heavy metal contamination, DES-controllers play an important role in interim verification of hygiene processes. Organizations operating under FSSC 22000 and other food safety standards benefit from this practical and cost-effective tool for process control and risk management.
Conclusion: the added value of DES-controllers for the Food Industry
DES-controllers offer a versatile and effective solution for demonstrably safeguarding food safety, whether verifying the disinfection of workwear and environments, or confirming pasteurization process performance. With these bio-indicators, quality managers and auditors in the food industry can validate and optimize their processes efficiently and objectively.
Would you like to learn more about how DES-controllers can strengthen your quality assurance and food safety management? Please contact us for advice and further information.
