A WARRINGTON company has made a breakthrough in combating bacteria that causes food poisoning.

Liquid Technology Ltd, part of the Fenchurch Environmental Group based in Firs Lane, Appleton, has developed a special treatment for floors, walls and ceilings, 'Bactiguard', that has been proved to kill salmonella, listeria and e-coli in a range of independent tests.

Majorie Nicholson, spokesman for the Fenchurch Group, said it is an important development for food safety: "According to the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, the number of cases of food poisoning in 1998 will be almost 94,000. The most common source appears to be restaurants and the home. Minimising the risk of food poisoning epidemics, such as the e-coli outbreak in Scotland, is essential if consumer confidence in the food processing and manufacturing industry is to be raised.

"The main breakthrough with this development is that it actually kills the bacteria. Some other treatments just inhibit its growth."

The active ingredient in the treatment is 'Bactiguard' and has commonly been used in preventing infections in air filters. The company are currently working on incorporating the bacteria killer into machinery.

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