Decontamination of a multilaminated aseptic food packaging material and stainless steel by ozone

A multilaminated aseptic food packaging material and stainless steel were t reated with ozone to inactivate natural contaminants, bacterial biofilms an d dried films of Bacillus subtilis spores and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Ster ility of the multilaminated-packaging material was achieved when 1.0 x 2.0 cm-pieces of the naturally-contaminated material were treated with ozone in water (5.9 mug/mL) for 1 min. Dried films of spores (10(8)/6.3-cm(2) surfa ce) were eliminated by 13 mug/mL of ozone in water for the multilaminated p ackaging material and 8 mug/mL in case of the stainless steel. Ozone inacti vated Pseudomonas fluorescens in biofilms more effectively on stainless ste el than on the multilaminated packaging material. Repeated exposure to ozon e of Pseudomonas fluorescens in biofilms on the multilaminated packaging ma terial eliminated up to similar to 10(8) cfu/12.5 cm(2). In conclusion ozon e is an effective sanitizer with potential applications in the decontaminat ion of packaging materials and equipment food-contact surfaces.