Editing Ammonia (section)

=== Antimicrobial agent for food products ===
As early as in 1895, it was known that ammonia was 'strongly [[antiseptic]]; it requires 1.4&nbsp;grams per litre to preserve [[Broth|beef tea]] (broth).'<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/disinfectiondisi00rideuoft|title=Disinfection and Disinfectants: An Introduction to the Study of|author=Samuel Rideal|publisher=Charles Griffin and Company|place=London|year=1895|page=[https://archive.org/details/disinfectiondisi00rideuoft/page/109 109]}}</ref> In one study, anhydrous ammonia destroyed 99.999% of [[zoonotic bacteria]] in three types of [[compound feed|animal feed]], but not [[silage]].<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2007.11.040|title=Ammonia disinfection of animal feeds – Laboratory study|author=Tajkarimi, Mehrdad|journal=International Journal of Food Microbiology|volume=122|issue= 1–2|year=2008|pages=23–28|pmid=18155794|last2=Riemann|first2=H. P.|last3=Hajmeer|first3=M. N.|last4=Gomez|first4=E. L.|last5=Razavilar|first5=V.|last6=Cliver|first6=D. O.|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=J. S. |last2=Lee |first2=Y. Y. |last3=Kim |first3=T. H. |title=A review on alkaline pretreatment technology for bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass. |journal=Bioresource Technology |date=January 2016 |volume=199 |pages=42–48 |doi=10.1016/j.biortech.2015.08.085 |pmid=26341010|bibcode=2016BiTec.199...42K }}</ref> Anhydrous ammonia is currently used commercially to reduce or eliminate [[microbial]] contamination of [[beef]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811220534/http://asae.frymulti.com/abstract.asp?aid=27245&t=2 Evaluation of Treatment Methods for Reducing Bacteria in Textured Beef]", Jensen, Jean L ''et al.'', [[American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers]] Annual Meeting 2009</ref><ref>''[http://haccpalliance.org/sub/Antimicrobial%20Interventions%20for%20Beef.pdf Reference Document: Antimicrobial Interventions for Beef]'', Dawna Winkler and Kerri B. Harris, Center for Food Safety, Department of Animal Science, [[Texas A&M University]], May 2009, page 12</ref>
Lean finely textured beef (popularly known as '[[pink slime]]') in the beef industry is made from fatty [[beef trimmings]] (c. 50–70% fat) by removing the fat using heat and [[centrifugation]], then treating it with ammonia to kill ''[[E. coli]]''. The process was deemed effective and safe by the [[US Department of Agriculture]] based on a study that found that the treatment reduces ''E. coli'' to undetectable levels.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html | work=The New York Times | title=The Burger That Shattered Her Life | first=Michael | last=Moss | date=3 October 2009}}</ref> There have been safety concerns about the process as well as consumer complaints about the taste and smell of ammonia-treated beef.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/us/31meat.html | work=The New York Times | title=Safety of Beef Processing Method Is Questioned | first=Michael | last=Moss | date=31 December 2009}}</ref>