Ozone gets OK for use in U.S. food industry

Palo Alto, Calif.Ozone, one of the most effective disinfectants used in food processing in other countries, has received "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) status in the United States from a panel of experts from the food science, ozone technology, and other related fields.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) requested an independent contractor to review the history and health aspects of ozone for possible use in processing foods for human consumption and for GRAS status. After an initial meeting with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which allows independent affirmation of GRAS status of substances by a qualified panel of experts, an expert panel of six scientists met frequently over the course of a year to interpret and evaluate the history of ozone.

The panel's findings included the following:

Ozone is a more powerful disinfectant than chlorine (the most commonly used disinfectant).

Ozone has been used safely and effectively in water treatment for nine decades and has been approved in the U.S. as GRAS for treatment of bottled water since 1982.

Ozone has been applied in the food industry in Europe for decades and, in some cases, for almost a century.

Ozone doesn't remain in water so there are no safety concerns about consumption.

"Ozone is one of the most powerful disinfectants known. There are no toxic by-products or potential health hazards when properly used as a microbiocide," said Myron Jones, EPRI Food Technology Center manager.

Potential applications for ozone in the food industry include increasing the yield of certain crops, protecting raw agricultural commodities during storage and transit, and sanitizing packaging materials used for food storage.

"Ozone is very efficient in killing pathogens and spoilage organisms, and its use by the food industry will be welcomed as another tool to ensure the production of safe and wholesome foods," said Jeff Barach, vice president of research and food science policy at the National Food Processors Association.