Use of FDA Approved PURE Control® Antimicrobial in Produce Processing Would Reduce Future Outbreak Risk
PURE Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB: PURE),creator of the patented silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, today responded to the current widespread foodborne illness outbreak associated with romaine lettuce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended consumers avoid all forms of romaine lettuce due to growing numbers of consumers being infected with E. coli after consuming romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona region. With its FDA approved, SDC-based PURE Control® antimicrobial, PURE offers produce processors a solution that can significantly mitigate the risk of foodborne illnesses resulting from consumption of their products.
Over 3+ years of extensive SDC testing has shown consistent and materially significant reductions in the pathogens most frequently associated with foodborne illness outbreaks traced to processed produce (including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria). Additionally, there are no negative organoleptic impacts resulting from the application of PURE Control during produce processing. A breakthrough technology, SDC is a highly effective, non-toxic food safety solution, which is safe for both people and the environment.
Produce processors typically seek a 1 log reduction* in pathogens from an intervention or processing aid. PURE’s testing with multiple produce processors has consistently exceeded expectations, indicating pathogen reductions averaging 3 logs – or 99.9%.
The use of PURE Control by produce processors is just beginning to roll out.
Hank R. Lambert, CEO of PURE said, “The recent E. coli outbreak associated with romaine lettuce highlights the urgent need for a more efficacious produce processing aid, and we are confident that PURE Control offers the industry that much needed, 'game changing' solution.
“Fresh produce processors continue to combat prevalent contaminants (including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria) that have persisted through processing. We believe that SDC-based PURE Control is a superior and non-toxic food safety alternative. PURE Control will go a long way toward alleviating many of the foodborne illness outbreaks, like those currently being experienced by consumers, as reported in the press. Both human health and brand reputation are at risk. Suppliers, retailers, and restaurant chains are seeking opportunities to be safety leaders – and PURE Control offers a proven means to make food safer for consumers,” concluded Lambert.
*Log reduction is a mathematical term used to show the relative
number of live microbes eliminated from a surface by disinfecting or
cleaning.
A 2-Log reduction can be best illustrated as
having two zeros, meaning the number of germs is 100 times smaller.
Produce – The Leading Source of Foodborne Illness in the US
The
combination of the immediate market need plus the proven superior
efficacy of SDC, leads PURE to believe that it will provide a solution
to US produce processors.
About PURE Bioscience, Inc.
PURE Bioscience, Inc. is focused
on developing and commercializing our proprietary antimicrobial products
primarily in the food safety arena -- providing solutions to the health
and environmental challenges of pathogen and hygienic control. Our
technology platform is based on patented stabilized ionic silver, and
our initial products contain silver dihydrogen citrate, or SDC. SDC is a
broad-spectrum, non-toxic antimicrobial agent, which offers 24-hour
residual protection and formulates well with other compounds. As a
platform technology, SDC is distinguished from existing products in the
marketplace because of its superior efficacy, reduced toxicity and it
mitigates bacterial resistance. PURE is headquartered in El Cajon,
California (San Diego metropolitan area). Additional information on PURE
is available at www.purebio.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Any statements contained in this
press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute
forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements
inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but
are not limited to, the Company’s failure to implement or otherwise
achieve the benefits of its proposed business initiatives and plans;
acceptance of the Company's current and future products and services in
the marketplace, including the Company’s ability to convert successful
evaluations and tests for PURE Control into customer orders and
customers continuing to place product orders as expected and to expand
their use of the Company’s products; the Company’s ability to raise the
funding required to support its continued operations and the
implementation of its business plan; the ability of the Company to
develop effective new products and receive required regulatory approvals
for such products, including the required data and regulatory approvals
required to use its SDC-based technology as a direct food contact
processing aid in raw meat processing and to expand its use in OLR
poultry processing; competitive factors, including customer acceptance
of the Company’s SDC-based products that are typically more expensive
than existing treatment chemicals; dependence upon third-party vendors,
including to manufacture its products; and other risks detailed in the
Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC), including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2017 and Form 10-Q for the second fiscal quarter ended January
31, 2018. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. By
making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the
date of this release.
View source version on businesswire.com:
PURE Bioscience, Inc.
Hank Lambert, CEO
619-596-8600 ext.103
hlambert@purebio.com
or
Bibicoff
+ MacInnis, Inc.
Terri MacInnis, VP of IR
818-379-8500
terri@bibimac.com
or
Redwood
Investment Group
Tom Hemingway
714-978-4425
tomh@redwoodfin.com