A British study suggests that the use of cast copper alloys containers used in food processing may help prevent cross-contamination of E. coli. Researchers at the University of Southampton and Copper Development Association Inc. in New York studied cast copper alloys -- a mixture of metals containing varying degrees of copper -- and stainless steel exposed to E. coli, some mixed with beef juice, some without incubated at either 22 degrees Celsius or 4 degrees Celsius for up to six hours. E. coli O157 is a serious food-borne pathogen worldwide found in cattle, and many outbreaks have been associated with consumption of undercooked ground beef. Stainless steel has been the metal of choice for food preparation. The results clearly demonstrate the antimicrobial properties of cast copper alloys with regard to E. coli O157, and consequently these alloys have the potential to aid in food safety, the researchers wrote in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. No significant reduction in cell numbers was reported for stainless steel.Read original
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