New antimicrobial solutions for meat

Commonly used antimicrobials in the meat industry include sodium lactate, sodium acetate and nitrites. However, many consumers view these with suspicion and are increasingly seeking out healthier products with labels that are cleaner, clearer and easier to understand. Cleanatis, Naturex’s new antimicrobial range, provides the solution to balancing the need for effective prevention of microbial food spoilage, answering consumer expectations for clean label and naturalness.

Launching at the IFT17 Food Expo in Las Vegas (26–28 June, 2017), Cleanatis M1 and Cleanatis M2 are synergistic blends of plant extracts that prevent the growth of Listeria and Salmonella, respectively, in the meat matrix. Both offer a viable clean label alternative to artificial preservatives, which are increasingly unpopular among shoppers, as well as to existing natural antimicrobial solutions, such as essential oils, which are often difficult to use because they impair product taste.

In tests, independent experts measured the performance of Cleanatis against that of standard antimicrobials in fresh ground meat. Cleanatis M1 inhibited growth of Listeria more effectively than classic antimicrobials (sodium lactate and sodium acetate). Cleanatis M2 was more effective than sodium lactate for controlling the growth of Salmonella.Furthermore, Cleanatis M1 and M2 protected color and taste and had no detrimental impact on the food matrix.