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Why the problem of restaurant pathogens REALLY may have a "silver" lining

A non-toxic type of cleaner that kills pathogens with a form of ionized silver is spreading in use after showing great results in several chains nationally.

June 17, 2016 by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Okay, we're not going to argue with you. The topic of cleaning and cleansers is not the sexiest one for a story, nor anywhere near top of mind for most restaurateurs. But, like all those things that "mom said" are good for you, you have to do it anyway. That holds doubly true for anyone in food service since we are all well aware that haphazard cleaning protocols or the use of inefficient products can leave a chain vulnerable to the devastating effects of a food-bourne illness outbreak on the brand.

In other words, it's worth paying attention to which products are in use or on the market, as well as which chains are having the most success in using them. For instance, an unnamed large U.S. quick-service chain and another casual dining chain both recently began testing PURE hard surface cleaner in their locations, according to a news release. Likewise, the product is currently in use by the nation's largest QSR chain, Subway. 

PURE representatives add that four additional chains are currently evaluating the product — which uses a patented form of stabilized ionic silver to kill pathogens — for use in their locations, while one chain has even started using the cleaner specifically to prevent and eliminate the Norovirus. That's the bug that many Brits refer to as the “winter vomiting virus,” perhaps the most apt description of its effects on humans and why restaurants want to avoid it. In addition, this week the company began working with a major West coast food service specialty chemical distributor which will increase its availability in that half of the country, according to a news release. 

Why you should care

The product is worth a restaurateur's attention if for no other reason than its impressive results when it comes to eliminating illness-causing germs and pathogens on hard surfaces and food processing areas. According to company information, the use of its hard surface cleaners in chain restaurant operations nationwide has been shown to reduce food safety events by at least 83 percent.

Likewise, when compared with the use of traditional ammonia-based cleaning concoctions in in-store tests by PURE, the use of its hard surface cleaner on critical food contact areas in chain locations resulted in a 96 percent improvement in cleaner efficacy and a significant reduction in food safety risk. The tests also show that employees consistently prefer using the product for ease of use and absence of odor and skin irritation. 

The company makes its products out of a patented antimicrobial called silver dihydrogen citrate or SDC, which is stabilized ionic silver. It is particularly effective against Norovirus, according to a news release, which said the product is also appealing because it's non-toxic and fast-acting for 24-hour restaurant microorganism elimination. 

"With foodborne illness so prominent in the media, and restaurants being the most frequent source of foodborne illness outbreaks, we continue to build awareness for PURE as a brand protection solution in the food industry by delivering a green antimicrobial technology," said PURE CEO Hank R. Lambert. 

"Importantly, with our recent FDA approvals for use of SDC as a direct food contact processing aid for fresh produce and raw poultry, the access to poultry and produce processors that our new West coast distributor partner provides will be impactful."

The stabilized ionic silver in the PURE cleaner is toxic to the pathogens that are toxic to us. PURE products are used in medicine and other fields, as well, to control the kinds of things that also plague food service, like bacteria, viruses and other largely invisible, illness-causing substances. 

About S.A. Whitehead

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Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb editor Shelly Whitehead is a former newspaper and TV reporter with an affinity for telling stories about the people and innovative thinking behind great brands.