The future of hygiene: a game-changing granular floor disinfectant for UK food processors

In the fast-paced, high-risk environment of food processing, hygiene is more than a regulatory requirement, it is a cornerstone of consumer trust and brand integrity. Yet, one of the most overlooked vectors for contamination is right under our feet: the floor. Even dry floors can harbour and spread dangerous pathogens, especially in high-traffic zones and hard-to-clean areas like drains, crevices, and uneven surfaces.

Enter ProvaStep™ by Sterilex – a revolutionary granular floor disinfectant that is transforming hygiene protocols across UK food processing facilities. ProvaStep is redefining what effective, efficient hygiene looks like.

Advanced chemistry for real-world conditions

ProvaStep is based on a proprietary blend of oxidising agents and surfactants in a granular form, formulated to work with incidental moisture present in food processing environments. This formulation allows for:

• Controlled moisture activation: the granules may be applied dry to target treatment areas and activate upon contact with minimal moisture (eg. residual rinse water, leaks, condensation or foot traffic), releasing active antimicrobial compounds.
• Blue colour: granules are easy to distinguish from food ingredients.
• Broad-spectrum efficacy: the formulation targets both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus hirae.
• Easy and safe to use: minimal PPE and training required.

The product is non-corrosive, does not degrade plastics or stainless steel, and produces no harmful by-products, making it safe for use around the perimeter of sensitive food processing equipment.

Continuous protection, minimal disruption

Unlike traditional liquid disinfectants that require downtime, ProvaStep delivers consistent and effective disinfection – even during production. This dry, granular formula is effective against pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli.

ProvaStep is designed for versatile applications. Whether applied in foot pans or mats, or broadcast directly on to floors, ProvaStep integrates seamlessly into existing hygiene programs. It’s ideal for high-traffic routes, loading bays and entryways, as well as around drains and other microbial hotspots. ProvaStep should be replenished as the product is tracked out – especially in high-traffic zones. The product’s residual action helps prevent cross-contamination on floor surfaces, keeping facilities safer for longer.

The dry disinfectant also meets industry ‘dust-free’ standards, minimising airborne particles, and its blue colour ensures easy visual distinction from food ingredients.

Validated by rigorous microbial testing

ProvaStep’s efficacy has been validated using EN 1276 and EN 13697, European standards for bactericidal activity under dirty conditions. These tests confirmed that ProvaStep achieves ≥ 4-5 log reductions in microbial populations within contact times as short as five minutes.

To simulate real-world contamination scenarios, Sterilex developed the ‘mini boot method’, a novel in-house protocol that mimics the transfer of pathogens via footwear. The results were compelling: ProvaStep demonstrated >4-log kill against viable pathogens within five minutes. This method demonstrates ProvaStep’s ability to interrupt microbial transfer across surfaces – proving that it can stop contamination in its tracks.

Field-proven performance in UK facilities

ProvaStep isn’t just a lab success – it’s delivering real-world results. In a Ready-to-Eat (RTE) facility, ProvaStep was implemented as part of a targeted hygiene intervention. Within weeks, Listeria prevalence on floors dropped from 25% to 2.7%, representing a >90% reduction. The group introduced ProvaStep to several other sites including suppliers.

Another UK meat processor facing elevated ATP swab readings at high-risk entry points replaced liquid quaternary ammonium in footbaths with ProvaStep and began broadcasting the granules around drains and doorways. The result: a marked decrease in microbial counts, reduced cleaning time and chemical usage, and enhanced compliance with FSA and BRC standards.

“ProvaStep was incredibly easy to use and delivered superior hygienic results.”

“We are committed to embracing new technologies that help us maintain our exceptional standards. We were so impressed with ProvaStep. We had never seen a dry disinfectant used on floors, but ProvaStep was incredibly easy to use and delivered superior hygienic results. Additionally, we liked that we could see the product track through the facility, knowing it was providing additional bacterial control beyond the entrance.” – UK protein processor.

Sterilex: your partner in food safety innovation

Sterilex is a US-based leader in microbial control, trusted by the world’s largest food companies. With teams across North America, Europe and Latin America, Sterilex delivers science-backed solutions to the most complex hygiene challenges.

With ProvaStep, the future of floor disinfection is here – it’s dry, durable and designed for the demands of modern food processing.