Virucidal efficacy of sodium bicarbonate on a food contact surface against feline calicivirus, a norovirus surrogate.
Norovirus-associated foodborne outbreaks have become a major public health concern all over the world. Food service establishments are always looking for disinfectants and sanitizers that are effective against various microbes but are non-corrosive and non-toxic to food and food contact surfaces. The efficacy of sodium bicarbonate against certain bacteria and fungi has been documented but its role as a disinfectant against viruses is not known. In this study, anti-calicivirus efficacy of sodium bicarbonate alone and in combination with aldehydes or hydrogen peroxide was evaluated using feline calicivirus (FCV) as a surrogate for norovirus (NoV). Sodium bicarbonate at concentrations of 5% and above was found to be the most effective with 4 log(10) (99.99%) reduction in FCV titers on food contact surfaces within a contact time of 1 min. The virucidal efficacy of sodium bicarbonate was enhanced when it was used in combination with aldehydes or hydrogen peroxide. An advantage of sodium bicarbonate over the available chemical disinfectants for food contact surfaces is its safety, ready availability and low cost. The use of sodium bicarbonate alone or in combination with aldehydes can be an effective and inexpensive method of disinfecting food contact surfaces.
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota,1333 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.
Yashpal S
YS
Malik
Sagar M
SM
Goyal
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011634:Public Health; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
D000447:Aldehydes; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide