Title: The sanitising efficiency of different disinfectants used in the fish industry

This study examines the bactericidal efficiency of common disinfectants using the modified surface testing method against adherent cells on stainless steel surface (type 304, 2B). Mixed culture of Pseudomonas putida, Serratia liquefaciens and Shewanella putrefaciens isolated from shrimp and fish processing plants were used as test bacteria. Cod juice (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic herring juice (Clupea harengus) were used to simulate the practice processing condition of lean fish and fat fish. The results from this project indicated that adhesion of selected bacteria suspension on stainless steel was weak and adherent cells could be removed easily by running water. At concentrations of 50 and 200ppm of active chlorine hypochlorite containing disinfectant was less effective than peracetic acid (PAA) and quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0% (v/v) especially in the presence of fat. The type of raw material produced must be considered as being a predominating parameter affecting the time-concentration relation of the applied disinfectant.