Reduce the risk of harmful cool room cross-contamination with COLORBOND® Permagard® steel

MEDIA RELEASE

16 May 2012

Reduce the risk of harmful cool room cross-contamination
with COLORBOND Permagard steel

As the risk of bacteria in cool rooms and hygiene-sensitive environments continues to grow premium cool room panel products such as COLORBOND Permagard steel are helping to meet the challenge.

For over six years, COLORBOND Permagard steel has provided the cool room industry with the proven strength of COLORBOND steel combined with the unique Microban antibacterial technology to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, such as escherichia coli (known as e.coli) which leads to food borne illnesses as a result of cross-contamination.

Microban technology is proven to inhibit the growth of surface bacteria. The antibacterial protection technology is durably incorporated into COLORBOND Permagard steel during the manufacturing process and is an intrinsic part of the product. When bacteria comes into contact with the product surface, the Microban technology reacts with the cell wall of the bacteria and disrupts key cell functions so that it cannot grow, function or reproduce. BlueScope Steel has the exclusive license for the Microban technology in Australia and New Zealand for pre-painted steel composite panels.

Eating foods spoiled with bacteria, such as escherichia coli which has been identified by food science organisation, HACCP Australia, as a rapidly growing occurrence in Australian cool rooms, can cause a range of illnesses from diarrhoea and vomiting, to kidney failure and, in extreme cases, can be fatal.

As a premium product, COLORBOND Permagard steel has undergone numerous assessments and is either approved by or in compliance with the regulations of the European Union Scientific Committee for Food, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Food and Drug Administration as well as the Australian and New Zealand Food Authority. COLORBOND Permagard steel is certified by HACCP Australia as a ‘FoodSafe’ product for ceiling and wall linings of food storage and processing facilities. 

Martin Stone, director of HACCP Australia, explains how cool room panels, such as COLORBOND Permagard steel with Microban antibacterial technology, can help reduce the prevalence of bacteria and contamination in cool rooms and hygiene-sensitive food environments:

“Good hygiene and prevention of cross-contamination is important.  Cross-contamination from bacteria can lead to food poisoning and over 5 million people are reported to be effected by food poisoning every year in Australia.  As HACCP technologists are well aware, food contamination is often the result of contact with unclean and unhygienic surfaces.”

“COLORBOND Permagard steel works by minimising the risk of contamination by reducing the opportunity for bacteria to transfer to food so there are real benefits from using this product.”

To further reduce the risk of cross-contamination, COLORBOND Permagard steel works continuously and will not wash off. This ensures its effectiveness between cleanings and in areas that are difficult to clean. Tests have shown that even after simulated cleaning, using typical cool room detergents over a period of 10 years, COLORBOND Permagard steel remained highly effective in its antibacterial properties and was resistant to corrosion.

The product can be used in a range of applications such as cool rooms and facilities that store and process food items where food hygiene and safety is a primary concern including supermarket cold storage areas, food processing plants, abattoirs and wineries.

COLORBOND Permagard steel is backed by a BlueScope Steel warranty*. It is available in the colour Permagard White and in a range of panel thicknesses from 50mm to 200mm.

For further information on COLORBOND Permagard steel, call Steel Select on 1800 022 999 or visit www.colorbond.com/permagard

* Warranty terms and conditions apply. Warranties are not available for all products and applications. The duration, terms and conditions of available warranties vary according to product use and application. To determine the eligibility of your project, visit http://www.colorbond.com/permagard or call 1800 022 999.

ENDS

For all media enquiries, interviews or images please contact James Cooley at Stellar* Concepts Australia on 02 9281 8000 or james@stellar.net.au