SureBeam, provider of electron beam technology for food safety, is to supply equipment for the new Brawley Beef processing facilities in California and Arizona.

The multiyear agreement will mean Brawley Beef will evaluate the use of SureBeam's technology on its ground beef product line.

"Brawley Beef departs from the tradition normally seen in meat processing," says Greg Beck, Brawley's president and chief operating officer. "Brawley Beef processes cattle using the latest livestock handling and processing technologies to assure consumers that they will receive consistent - and most importantly - the safest beef products on the market. SureBeam technology advances that goal by helping to eliminate the threat of invisible microbial contamination that may inadvertently survive all other food safety interventions."

Headquartered in California's Imperial Valley, Brawley Beef's newly built, 372,000 square-foot facility processes domestic fed beef using multiple food-safety intervention systems, such as steam vacuuming, organic acid sprays, wash and rinse, and thermal pasteurisation to help eliminate the threat of pathogens. Much like milk pasteurisation, SureBeam's technology will be employed as a last layer of safety after a food product has been processed and packaged.

"Brawley Beef advances in animal feeding and care, processing, and food safety are making a pioneering contribution to the beef industry," said Larry Oberkfell, SureBeam's chairman, president and CEO. "It's an initiative that will help American beef farming thrive, while opening new doors for consumer choice and quality."

Similar to a microwave oven, SureBeam technology uses ordinary electricity as its energy source to irradiate and help eliminate harmful bacteria - such as e. coli, listeria, and salmonella - enhancing a food's quality without compromising its taste, texture, or nutritional value. Friendly to the environment, the technology also provides a post-harvest treatment that effectively rids fresh fruit and vegetables of harmful environmental pests, eliminating the need for toxic chemical fumigants.

SureBeam processed ground beef and fruit products are sold across the United States in thousands of supermarkets, as well as by home delivery, direct mail, and through food service. Headquartered in San Diego, California, SureBeam is a leading provider of electron beam food safety systems and services for the food industry.