Fumoir Grizzly holds a patent for a unique bio-ingredient process to control Listeria bacteria on fish and other processed foods and is beginning commercialization worldwide.
Aliotech, a commercial division, recently opened at Fumoir Grizzly, a smoked fish manufacturer in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, near Quebec. Its representatives have been to food fairs in Boston and Barcelona in recent weeks to showcase the bacteriocin Bac M35.
This all-natural organic ingredient protects fish stored at 4 degrees for 21 days from Listeria, a bacterium that can contaminate food and cause serious health problems. The discovery and application of the Bac M35 made Fumoir Grizzly the world leader in food preservation in 2017.
Say goodbye to chemicals
“It’s an all-natural probiotic that we already use in our smoked salmon. A bacterium naturally found in marine products and the environment. Thanks to the antibacterial and, in particular, anti-listeria action of this bio-ingredient, we can replace all the chemical products currently used in the food industry,” says Laura Boivin, President of Fumoir Grizzly.
Bac M35 comes in the form of a white powder that is rehydrated and applied to food in a fine mist. It doesn’t change the taste or appearance, explains Laura Boivin.
Not only does Listeria cause health problems for consumers who are exposed to it, but it also results in significant economic losses for companies who have to recall their products following contamination. “We also want to avoid food losses. A company with a Listeria problem needs to destroy all food as this creates terrible waste. Our goal is to be able to offer it in all food areas, because Listeria is found everywhere, in ham, cheese, salad and not just in fish,” says Laura Boivin.
The company already has Health Canada approval to market the product for use in smoked fish. Laura Boivin explains that steps have also been taken to obtain approvals for other foods such as salads and ready meals. “We have adopted the certification processes in the United States for fish, and once we receive those from Canada for other foods, we will apply for them in the United States as well.”
The company’s goal is to initially market the Bac M35 in Europe and America. “Each country has its own regulations on Listeria. We’ve done our research and specifically target Chile and Norway, which are big fish producers. We’ll see after that,” says Laura Boivin.
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