Phosphates have been a fundamental ingredient in cleaning and sanitation chemicals for years. While banned in consumer products like dishwashing detergents due to their potential for water pollution, phosphates are still a principal ingredient in sanitizers for food processing facilities. The continued use of phosphates is primarily due to their efficacy in cleaning formulations which are critical for food safety.
However phosphate-containing chemicals pose a significant threat to the environment if left untreated in wastewater. Along with tightening regulations from local municipalities and the EPA, this means meat and poultry processors will need to reduce their use and discharge of phosphates. The good news? With recent innovations in sanitation chemistries, beef and poultry processors now have more phosphate-free chemical options at their disposal—that are equally efficacious to conventional chemistries.