Escherichia coli — Sanitary Control
Escherichia coli is an intestinal bacterium of mammals and birds; finding it in food, water or on surfaces indicates faecal contamination or hygiene failures.
Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but some are pathogenic, such as the Shiga toxin-producing strains (STEC), including O157:H7. That is why it is used as an indicator microorganism: Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 includes it among the microbiological criteria for several foods, and for drinking water Spanish Royal Decree 3/2023 requires 0 CFU in 100 ml. Finding it on a surface after cleaning means that cleaning or disinfection has not worked.
Its control combines good handling practices, cleaning to remove organic matter and disinfection with a product of proven efficacy. E. coli is one of the reference bacteria in the standards UNE-EN 1276 (suspension test) and UNE-EN 13697 (surface test), so it appears in the tests of almost all bactericidal disinfectants. What changes from one product to another is the dose, the contact time and whether the test was carried out under clean or dirty conditions.
Instaquim products whose technical data sheet cites tests against Escherichia coli:
- Clor NF Pro (UNE-EN 1276 at 2 % and UNE-EN 13697 at 4 %, dirty conditions): tanks, circuits and utensils in the food industry.
- Bacter Clor (UNE-EN 13697 at 2 %, dirty conditions): slaughterhouses, cutting rooms, canneries and cold stores.
- Bacter Alcalino (UNE-EN 13697, dirty conditions; 1 %, about 5 min for bactericidal effect): surfaces and equipment in the food industry.
- InstaBact® 3000 (UNE-EN 13697, clean conditions; 2 %, about 5 min): walls, equipment, utensils and surfaces.
- InstaBact® DS (UNE-EN 13697, dirty conditions; neat, at least 5 min): ready-to-use cleaner disinfectant for surfaces.
- Oxa Per (UNE-EN 13697, clean conditions; 1 %, about 15 min): food industry facilities, also by recirculation (CIP).