Food-borne illness remains a top concern of the USDA, FDA, and CDC. This phase I Small Business Innovation Research project, entitled A potent, renewable, and durable field-administrable antimicrobial treatment for modular conveyor belts puts forth a set of technical objectives and a series of tasks that when completed will result in a product that will significantly impact food safety. Using patent-pendingN-halamine technology, we will create a rechargeable antimicrobial polyethylene coating introducable at a marketable cost. This material will be fast acting against major food-borne pathogens, yet safe and stable for food and humans. Furthermore, the treatment will not deleteriously compromise the mechanical properties of the base material. Completion of the phase I project will lay a solid foundation to transmission to the phase II development. By following a well-designed commercialization plan, phase II will establish design, material, and process parameters for phase III commercialization. Future applications may extend to a variety of areas within food processing, agriculture, and healthcare industries.
