When most people in the food industry hear the word “antimicrobial,” they usually think about preservatives such as sodium benzoate or calcium propionate. But antimicrobials are more than just preservatives. Today’s technology allows a wide range of products to be formulated with antimicrobial components for use in food processing equipment, floors, walls, doors, and refrigeration and ventilation systems. The key to these products is silver.
Ancient people such as the Phoenicians understood that placing water in silver bowls or chalices helped to keep them safe from contaminated water. In fact, silver is not the only metal with this property. Copper sheathing was placed on the bottom of ancient hulls to prevent shipworms from attacking them and to discourage the growth of weeds.