Recent advances in understanding the control of disinfectant-resistant biofilms by hurdle technology in the food industry

Modern food processing environment provides an ideal condition for biofilms formation by foodborne and spoilage microorganisms on different food contact surfaces. It is widely acknowledged that biofilm has become a serious problem in the food industry, as the biofilm growth mode induces microbial resistance to chemical disinfection. The persistence of biofilms after cleaning and disinfection procedures may result in foodborne illness and food spoilage, emphasizing the importance of preventing biofilms in food production facilities. The use of conventional disinfection technologies alone may not help to achieve the goal of producing safe food products with high quality. Hurdle technology provides a great option for the effective control of biofilms formed on food contact surfaces. Thus, a better understanding of biofilm behavior in response to different disinfectants, as well as seeking potential hurdle technologies to control biofilms are essential. In this review, we discuss the factors that influence the efficiency of disinfectants, and elaborate possible mechanisms which are behind the apparent high antimicrobial resistance of biofilms, and as well as mechanisms which are involved in effective hurdle technologies to control biofilms.