What is Bacteria & Why is it So Harmful in Food Production Units?

As a supplier of industrial door curtains, we are well aware of how important hygiene is in food storage units, which is why we are pleased to have produced a unique anti-microbial PVC strip in association with SteriTouch Ltd and Vinyl Compounds Ltd. But, what are bacteria & why is it so harmful?

In scientific terms, bacteria are single cell microbes that can be classified into five groups based on their basic shape - spherical, rod, spiral, comma or corkscrew. They can exist as single cells or in pairs, chains or clusters. Bacteria are found in every habitat on earth and some can live on or inside other organisms, such as human beings. Not all bacteria are harmful; some play an important role in the nutrients cycle, as well as in the production of fermented foods such as yoghurt and soy sauce.

Like all living things, bacteria need food to grow and for energy. Sometimes bacteria can get into our food and start to break it down in order to provide themselves with nutrients and energy. This can cause our food to look, smell and taste disgusting, meaning it becomes inedible for humans, and so must be thrown away. Obviously, in a food production unit, this would be a disaster; therefore, anti-microbial plastic curtains for doors are a godsend!

Our high-quality anti-microbial industrial door curtains are manufactured using technology developed by SteriTouch and are manufactured with the sole purpose of being used in any environment where hygiene is important. The individual PVC strips contain additives that kill of harmful bacteria such as E-coli, MSRA, Salmonella and most importantly Campylobacter, the biggest threat to food hygiene. They can also help in preventing the growth of other harmful things such as biofilm, fungi and mold. 

Mold is a type of fungus. Fungal spores are like tiny versions of plant seeds and are around us in the air all the time. These spores can land on food, and if the food is in a warm and moist environment, the fungal spores will then start to grow. They begin to send out very fine thread-like structures named hyphae, and these work with enzymes created by the mold to penetrate the skin of fruit and vegetables, for example. The hyphae crisscross each other to form a large tangle structure with threads that grow upwards and have spores at the end which are then released into the air, and the process starts again! Eventually, the fruit or vegetable will become coated in a furry substance and is then not fit to eat. 

Our anti-microbial plastic curtains for doors are also polar grade so they can withstand temperatures from -55 to +25c. They are easy to install and when you order you will receive the correct number of strips required for your curtain, along with our unique stainless steel hanging system for added durability. We also sell replacement PVC strip curtains strips, so that in the unlikely event that your existing strip curtain becomes damaged, you will avoid the added expense of replacing the entire curtain.

For more information about our plastic curtains for doors, please call us on 0333 999 7171 or drop us an email at sales@stripcurtainsdirect.co.uk