New Solution for Listeria Control in Food Processing: Clean-Label and Zero Organoleptic Alteration

Event organized by Mycro Srl.

Mycro S.r.l. is a company entirely dedicated to laboratory microbiological diagnostics and the sterilization sector. The company's goal is to select and offer top-quality products, supporting and guiding end users through targeted and effective technical assistance.

The company distributes various devices compliant with major European reference standards: dehydrated and ready-to-use culture media, swabs, sponges, and bags for environmental sampling, industrial hygiene monitoring instruments, and a complete line of pouches, rolls, and medical/SMS paper for sterilization.

The offered product range features top global manufacturers in microbiology, from LAB M (a Neogen Group company) for culture media, to Medical Wire for environmental swabs, to the Sterifit sterilization line (entirely MADE IN ITALY), alongside many other carefully selected brands.

Session Overview

Inneo is a natural antimicrobial processing aid specifically designed to eliminate Listeria monocytogenes in the food industry. Developed by the Canadian biotechnology company Innodal (based in Quebec), it represents one of the most significant recent innovations in food biosecurity.

It is historically relevant because, in 2020, it became the first bacteriocin ever approved by Health Canada with processing aid status—an approval later extended to the United States by the FDA and USDA with GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) designation.

Key features of Inneo include:

• Pediocin-Based Mechanism: Its 100% natural formula is engineered around pediocin, a specific bacteriocin (antimicrobial peptide). This protein attaches to the cell membrane of Listeria, creating a pore that destroys the bacterium via cell lysis.
• Targeted (Selective) Action: Unlike common nisin, which can sometimes contain impurities or have an excessively broad spectrum, Inneo targets Listeria and Clostridium perfringens with extreme precision. It does not interfere with beneficial microbial flora or block natural fermentation processes (such as lactic fermentation in cheeses or cured meats).
• Clean Label and No Labeling Requirement: Because it acts during processing and is officially classified as a processing aid (rather than a preservative additive), food producers are not required to list it in the ingredients on the product label.
• Applications: It is successfully used to protect ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, meat products, seafood, and dairy products, proving more effective than traditional chemical treatments.

PRODUCT ADVANTAGES:

1. Zero Residues and Total Disappearance (The "True" Processing Aid)

• Limitations of current Italian market solutions: Traditional nisin or chemical lactates remain in the product and require label disclosure, compromising clean label goals. Live protective cultures remain active, potentially altering the sensory profile over time.
• The Inneo Advantage: Inneo is formulated around pediocin, a pure antimicrobial peptide. Within 24–48 hours of application, natural food proteases completely break down the Inneo protein into simple free amino acids. It performs its destructive action against Listeria and then "disappears" without leaving a trace.

2. Surgical Precision: Zero Interference with Fermentation

• Limitations of current Italian market solutions: Broad-spectrum antimicrobials or certain competitive cultures can slow down or block acidification kinetics and the natural fermentation processes essential to Italian food specialties (e.g., salamis, traditional cheeses).
• The Inneo Advantage: Pediocin acts in a targeted, highly selective manner. It recognizes a specific receptor on the cell membrane of Listeria monocytogenes and punctures it (cell lysis). It does not inhibit health-promoting microorganisms (lactic cultures, starter cultures) and does not alter the acidification curve or aging process.

3. Matrix-Independent Efficacy

• Limitations of current Italian market solutions: The effectiveness of live cultures depends heavily on the temperature, pH, moisture, and salinity of the food product. If the "good" bacteria do not find the ideal environment to grow, they do not produce bacteriocins, allowing Listeria to proliferate.
• The Inneo Advantage: Because it is a ready-to-use active protein rather than a live bacterium that must colonize the food, Inneo acts instantly. Its stability and efficacy are independent of the food matrix, seasonings, sauces, or acidic pH.

4. High Yield and Infinitesimal Dosage (Cost Efficiency)

• Limitations of current Italian market solutions: Traditional chemical additives require heavy dosages in recipes to be effective, running the risk of altering food taste, color, or texture.
• The Inneo Advantage: It achieves an extraordinary efficiency ratio due to the high concentration of technology developed by Innodal. A single gram of Inneo can treat up to 6,600 kg of food. This minimal impact guarantees total organoleptic neutrality: zero alteration of flavor, color, or texture.

5. Maximum Application Flexibility

• Limitations of current Italian market solutions: Many market solutions can only be added directly into the dough/mixture, leaving post-processing cross-contamination unaddressed.
• The Inneo Advantage: It can be integrated into existing workflows without overhauling processing equipment. It supports three application methods: post-cooking or pre-packaging surface spraying/nebulization, direct recipe incorporation, or immersion bathing.

Program

 The event will be held in Italian

 English translation available (see below)