by How should innovation be treated in a regulated environment?
SaniTwice® as an alternative protocol for soap/water handwashing was rejected by at least one of the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) Council III delegates because SaniTwice works best with patented Purell VF-481. This is based on its unique effectiveness on norovirus, the leading pathogen in foodborne outbreaks.
In reality, the SaniTwice protocol potentiates all alcohol hand sanitizers as it simply adds a cleaning step.
There are three shortcomings in the Model Food Code that are exposed in this 7-year pursuit of a protocol immediately accepted by the US military, for whom it was originally developed:
- Innovation is discouraged by virtue of the CFP codification process, weighted in favor of the regulatory partners.
- There is no codified standard for handwashing, nullifying any attempt to use science as the benchmark for change.
- The code overvalues product label claims and undervalues multi-step protocols. SaniTwice is first a removal of pathogens followed by a kill step.
We are confident these three deficiencies are correctable. Industry Innovation must be encouraged in the interest of public health. Patent protected periods fuel further innovation.
Discussion is welcomed.
