Cleaning and disinfection in the food processing sector and washing and sanitising fresh produce can be a water intensive process utilizing strong chemicals which are damaging to equipment, personnel and the environment.

Citrofresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative is an organic plant derivative that can deliver the requirements of cleaning and sanitising foods in a non toxic, non corrosive and 99.99% biodegradable system. It is a unique phyto-pharmaceutical and totally natural organic compound with a broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity. In laboratory, in-vitro tests have shown CitroFresh® to be effective in killing bacteria, (gram positive and gram negative) viruses, moulds, yeast and fungi.

Citrofresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative is non-mutagenic, non-carcinogenic, non-toxic, non-corrosive, non-tainting and non-volatile. It has extended action over 48 hours and has the ability to break down bio-film. It's non hazardous to operators and the environment. It is infinitely soluble and effective even in the presence of organic matter. It can be applied across all the manufacturing steps to mitigate product contamination and can safely discharged into waterways without further treatment.

Citrofresh® FoodWash and Natural Preservative complies with Food Standards Australia and New Zealand and is classed as "GRAS" (Generally Recognised As Safe) by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) the product can be used as a food processing aid and directly applied to food.
There are three major products from the CitroLife® range that create a full cleaning, disinfecting and preservation system for the food industry:

• 1. CitroShield® Multi-Purpose Cleaner: A heavy duty foaming biocidal ALKALINE cleaner that is a combination of metasilicate, modern biocidal amphoteric foam surfactants. This product will remove proteinaceous soils, oils, and fat encrusted soils. The dilution rate can be adjusted depending on the contaminant loading. The product is non corrosive (humans and metals), high in cleaning/sanitising efficiency, high in biodegradability and low in toxicity. This product is also available in a non-foaming formula if required. It can be used safely to clean all inanimate surfaces used in the processing and preparation of foods including restaurant kitchens, food processing factories, fruit and vegetable markets, seafood markets, poultry processing plants, butcher shops, etc.
• 2. CitroShield® Disinfectant: is an organic surface disinfectant that is fast acting, broad spectrum and highly effective against bacteria, viruses, moulds and fungi. It can be used safely to disinfect all inanimate surfaces used in the processing and preparation of foods including restaurant kitchens, food processing factories, fruit and vegetable markets, seafood markets, poultry processing plants, butcher shops, etc.
• 3. CitroFresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative: A phyto-pharmaceutical of organic origin that acts mechanistically by destroying the cellular membrane of a micro-organism. This is due to a synergistic reaction created between the non-toxic bioflavonoids, ascorbic acid with other natural organic acids present. CitroFresh® is carried in a food safe solvent, which makes the active ingredients, infinitely soluble in water. It is completely organic and will not affect the residual flavour or odour of foods when applied. CitroFresh® is completely harmless to the solid cells of plants, animals and people. It is a terminal food sanitiser and is not required to be rinsed off once applied. It is food contact safe and non-hazardous when it enters waterways. CitroFresh® has a kill rate of 99.99% on contact and bacteria have not been found to build up resistance to it through mutation due to its unique physical action.

From a Regulatory Basis

• The bitter orange extract used in CitroFresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative may reasonably be considered to be a safe and suitable non-standardised food. Its use is not expressly prohibited or limited by the FSANZ Code.
• CitroFresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative may be applied as a sanitizer directly to food surfaces.
• CitroFresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative may be used as a processing aid.
• CitroFresh® Food Wash and Natural Preservative is legally classed as "GRAS" (Generally Recognised As Safe) by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

In addition to routine produce washing and equipment and surface cleaning CitroLife® products have applications in a number of other areas which may be of interest to the food processing industries:

• Purifying water and water utilising equipment.
• Personal hygiene
• Water cooled ventilation systems
• Use as a food processing aid