Global water quality is on the decline, as shown in the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and VEOLIA study in 2015. As concerns over food safety continue to rise, commercial reverse osmosis has been widely applied to the food service and beverage industry wherever purified, bacteria-free water is a necessary ingredient. According to a survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted in June by Daymon Worldwide’s Custom Shopper Insights team (Crawford, Elizabeth. “Food safety concerns are changing how consumers shop and retailers stock food.” August 13, 2015. www.foodnavigator-usa.com), one third of all consumers say that their number one concern is food safety. Even a single food poisoning incident from e.coli can instantly cripple or permanently degrade a business or product. All water related needs, from rinsing, washing, cleaning equipment, to preparing food to be eaten, could benefit from water treated by reverse osmosis as it guarantees contaminant free, sterilized water for the food production process.
Beverage Water Filtration
Reverse osmosis is a critical filtration process for local water dealers, bottled water manufacturers, coffee shops, fountain beverages, and beverage manufacturers with products like soda or kombucha. Using untreated city water exposes the finished product to undesired minerals, chlorine tastes and odors. All city water contains chlorine and/or chloramines to kill microorganisms, which must be removed with either a carbon filter or reverse osmosis system. Dechlorination is recommended for any fermented product like kombucha, which relies upon a symbiotic chemical relationship between bacteria and yeast, a process disrupted by the presence of chlorine. The City Pure is the perfect system for whenever commercial de-chlorination is needed.
The Best Water Filtration System for Coffee
Even the best cup of coffee in the world consists of 98% water. However, the main ingredient is often overlooked in the coffee preparation process. Addressing water quality is a crucial first step for any commercial coffee shop. Using untreated tap water can throw off the ideal mineral balance for the coffee extraction process. Too much calcium and magnesium can under-extract the coffee, while too little can over-extract the coffee, making it too bitter. Using a commercial reverse osmosis system with a blending valve will both dechlorinate the water and give the brewer total control over the mineral balance. Additionally, removing scaling minerals via reverse osmosis will extend the longevity of important equipment such as espresso machines, commercial dishwashers, and dishes.
Commercial Reverse Osmosis for Food Production
There are other less well-known uses for reverse osmosis applications, such as the production of maple syrup. Maple syrup manufacturers harvest the raw product from the Maple tree and run it through a reverse osmosis system. The reverse osmosis system separates the water out of the syrup and collects the de-saturated maple syrup through the reverse osmosis concentrate line. This saves maple syrup manufactures money by reducing the time and energy needed to evaporate the water out of the harvested maple syrup.
