Process for the reduction in microbial activity in protein product water processing tanks for increased tank water utility and conversation

A method comprising:

• providing a processing tank system having a process bath comprising an aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution, the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution comprising peracetic acid at a predetermined initial chemical concentration of about 10 ppm up to about 230 ppm;
• using the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution during a first production day in the production of products for human consumption;
• maintaining an acceptable concentration of the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution from about 10 ppm to about 230 ppm of peracetic acid in the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution during the first production day;
• shutting down production using the process bath at the end of the first production day;
• retaining the remaining aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution within the processing tank system at the end of the first production day;
• recharging the process bath comprising the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution retained within the processing tank system to the predetermined chemical concentration of about 10 ppm to about 230 ppm of peracetic acid at the beginning of a next production day;
• using the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution during the next production day in the production of products for human consumption;
• maintaining the acceptable concentration of the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution from about 10 ppm to about 230 ppm of peracetic acid in the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution during the next production day;
• and
• draining the aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution from the processing tank system;
• wherein the steps of shutting down the processing tank system, retaining the remaining aqueous antimicrobial intervention solution within the processing tank system, and recharging the process bath, can each be repeated to provide two or more production days up to about seven production days before conducting the draining step.

A method of production of products for human consumption while extending a useful lifetime of water used during the production of products for human consumption, the method comprising:

• retaining an aqueous peracetic acid solution within a processing tank system at the end of a first production day;
• recharging the aqueous peracetic acid solution retained within the processing tank system to a concentration from about 10 ppm up to about 230 ppm of aqueous peracetic acid solution within the processing tank system at the beginning of a next production day;
• using the aqueous peracetic acid solution during the next production day in the production of products for human consumption;
• and
• draining the processing tank system.