Significance of air quality in various processes

The importance of air quality is well understood in many industrial areas, like electronics and pharmaceutics. In food processing, until recently more attention has been paid to other contaminant sources in the plant. Ambient air acts as a transporting vector for microbial cells detached from a surface and thus the air quality and overall cleanliness of the production plant and its surroundings are in close connection. As a consequence of the prolonged shelf-life requirements together with reduced use of preservatives, all factors possibly influencing the product have to be considered carefully, including the food package and its manufacturing process. The origin, quality and importance of airborne contamination are discussed and a few examples representing different situations from the point of view of airborne contamination are presented.