Bluezone air purifiers promoted for foodservice operators

The Middleby Corp., a foodservice equipment supplier, has launched a line of indoor air purifiers, Bluezone by Middleby, that are promoted to make indoor dining safer during the COVID-19 pandemic, and extend the shelf life of produce when used in walk-in coolers.

Middleby recently entered into an exclusive licensing agreement and made an investment in the developers of the equipment, Bluezone Products Inc. The systems don’t use filters and destroy 99.9995% of virus and other contaminants, including bacteria, mold and gases that affect indoor air quality, according to a news release.

“Our partnership with Bluezone allows us to make restaurants and all indoor spaces safer by offering a proven technology that outperforms HEPA and other systems currently in the marketplace,” Tim Fitzgerald, CEO of Middleby Corp., said in the release.
Fitzgerald said the Bluezone systems will help restaurants return to traditional indoor seating.

“Restrictions placed on indoor dining as well as customer apprehension has created an immediate and pressing need to address indoor air quality at restaurants and other venues,” he said in the release.

The units pull air into a “reaction chamber,” where a patented process breaks down virus and other contaminants. A third-party laboratory test (https://bit.ly/3rFfFqs) showed the Bluezone technology killed virtually all of the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the release.

The company’s Food Preservation units are configured to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, and are used by the U.S. military for that purpose, according to the company’s website. The units eliminate volatile organic compounds that can cause unpleasant transfers of flavor and odors.

The Bluezone walk-in cooler units also eliminate the ethylene gas, a ripening agent, that is naturally emitted by some fresh produce, helping extend the shelf life, according to the company.