Prevention of the Biological Contamination of Food: Processing/Distribution and Consumer Usage

This book deals with risk management by focusing on microbiological risks. Throughout the food chain, foodstuff may be exposed to dangerous agents that can potentially affect its quality and thus the health of consumers.

A good knowledge of the strategies and means of control implemented along the food chain after the primary production stage is a necessary condition and a prerequisite for any further improvement, but it is not sufficient. Indeed, in order to better prevent and therefore control these risks, it is essential to study both the phenomena of surface contamination and those relating to the elimination of this contamination by cleaning and disinfection operations in order to know the main mechanisms.

Thanks to this, a certain number of innovations can already be proposed (new surfaces, new materials and cleaning and disinfection procedures, etc.) for future developments on an industrial or domestic scale.

Thierry Bénézech is research director at INRAE. His research areas include hygienic engineering, hygienic design of food equipment, cleaning operation improvement and strategies to mitigate related environmental impacts.

Christine Faille is research director at INRAE and is the leader of a research team specialized in phenomena occurring at interfaces between bacteria (spores and biofilms) and materials in the food sector.