METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE EFFICACY OF CHLOROUS ACID DISINFECTING SPRAYS FOR POULTRY AND OTHER MEATS

摘要

A method for disinfecting a meat carcass by spray application of an aqueous solution containing from about 0.05-0.12 % of a metal chlorite and a sufficient quantity of an acid having a pKa of from about 2.0-4.4 to adjust the pH of the aqueous solution to about 2.2-4.5 and to maintain the chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid to not more than about 35 % by weight of the aqueous solution, the molar ratio of the acid to metal chlorite being at least equal to the first pKa of the acid multiplied by the grams/liter concentration of metal chlorite in the aqueous solution. In one embodiment, the meat carcass is poultry.