Desinfektionsmittel als antimikrobielle Komponente in Zusatzstoffen für Fleischerzeugnisse

We studied four products which are marketed as effective preservatives of fresh, frozen and cooked meat products, containing salts and extracts of natural herbs. The products are distributed under the trade names Bacterin, Protecta One, Protecta Two and Protecta Three. Of interest were their content of antimicrobial substances and their ability to protect meat against selected bacteria. Mass spectroscopy and HPLC revealed the presence in all 4 products of the disinfectant benzalkonium chloride, a quaternary ammonium compound. However, when one of the products or equivalent amounts of benzalkonium chloride was added to minced meat at the recommended concentrations no preservative effect was detected. Because benzalkonium chloride is not a permitted food additive and anyway is not effective as a preservative in meat, the public should be cautioned against such products alleged to contain natural herb extracts.