e-FoodSafety.com announced today that it has acquired a 100 per cent stake in Food Safe from holding company Aquentium. Former president of Food Safe Mark Taggatz will stay on in an advisory capacity with e-FoodSafety.com to help with the group's strategic roll-out of each company division over the coming months.
Food Safe has a patent pending process that kills pathogens and bacteria from fruits and vegetables. This process also removes pesticides and is processing and packing levels, but also all the way through the transportation and distribution channels until the product is delivered to the end-user.
e-FoodSafety.com believes it is now well positioned within the food safety industry. Following the acquisition, the operation will be reorganised into six independent units to cover every aspect of the market. The aim is to ensure that more reduced pathogen and pesticide free fresh fruits and vegetables reach comsumers.
There is undoubtedly huge potential in the US - and global - food safety market. According to the US department of agriculture, less than 2 per cent of all fruits and vegetables are pathogen or germ-free at the initial packing point, with greater risk of pathogen growth during the distribution cycle.
And according to a National Restaurant Industry's forecast for the next ten years, high-tech solutions will have a critical impact on food safety as higher consumer expectations will lead to improved handling and sanitation. The globalisation of the food processing industry means that food safety solutions will have to be global solutions.
"The higher the expectations, the stronger will be the pressure on government agencies and lawmakers to provide stricter guidelines and regulations especially in the fresh fruits, vegetables, and produce industry," said e-FoodSafety.com chairman William Karney.
"One of the most important elements of our food safety system is its ability to extend the shelf life of a product an additional 10 to 30 days. Considering that over 25-35 per cent of a grower's fresh fruits, vegetables and produce never reach an end-user, the extension of the life cycle of a perishable product is extremely beneficial to all parties, including the consumer or any end-user."