PURE Bioscience Announces Superior In-Plant Poultry Parts Test Results With PURE Control Antimicrobial

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PURE Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB: PURE), creator of the patented, non-toxic silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, announced today that PURE Control® antimicrobial processing aid achieved strong results during recent in-plant testing on poultry parts. FDA and USDA approved PURE Control eliminated Salmonella and generated up to a 2.7 Log reduction in bacteria when applied in a dip tank on poultry parts.

Superior In-Plant Pathogen Reduction Results

In a production environment, PURE Control eliminated Salmonella, a result current chemistries are not consistently achieving. In addition, PURE Control generated up to a 2.7 Log reduction in bacteria, which is superior to results typically provided by current processing aids.

In previous laboratory testing on poultry parts, PURE Control generated a 3+ Log reduction in bacteria. PURE is especially encouraged by the 2.7 Log reduction, as it is rare to achieve results in an operating environment that are as strong as the results obtained in controlled laboratory conditions.

Ongoing Testing

During calendar Q4, PURE expects that the poultry processor conducting the tests will continue with several more rounds of optimization and validation in-plant testing. Anticipating successful completion of its in-plant work, PURE looks forward to this processor becoming the first customer to order and use PURE Control for parts processing. Additional processors are preparing to initiate their own optimization and validation in-plant testing in calendar Q4.

Hank R. Lambert, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are encouraged, but not surprised, that PURE Control achieved such superior pathogen reduction results on poultry parts when used in a working production environment. This is meaningful, real world confirmation of the effectiveness of non-toxic SDC. Our revolutionary new processing aid will enhance a processor’s ability to comply with the new Salmonella performance standards set forth by the USDA-FSIS, and help them to protect their brands.

“We expect that the revenues generated from the commercialization of PURE Control will help drive us to achieve our goal of cash flow breakeven operations by calendar Q4 2018,” concluded Lambert.

Compliance with USDA-FSIS Salmonella Action Plan

Implementing PURE Control enhances a processor’s ability to comply with new more stringent regulatory requirements, while at the same time achieving these results without harming their plant equipment, employees or the environment.

• PURE works with its customers to identify areas of greatest concern and helps them to develop a validation and implementation plan.
• Based on USDA studies, approximately 28% of raw poultry sold to consumers contains Salmonella, nearly twice the USDA’s current maximum allowable standard.
• In addition, the USDA also reports a disturbing 40% of processors exceeded the maximum allowable percent positive of Salmonella during a recent three-month period.

Benefits: Revolutionary New Processing Aid

Recently approved as a poultry processing aid and listed in the USDA-FSIS Directive 7120.1, SDC-based PURE Control provides the following benefits for poultry processors:

• Unparalleled effectiveness to address the top priority of the USDA in its Salmonella Action Plan, to reduce the presence of Salmonella in poultry sold to consumers by 50% from current levels.
• PURE Control (in contrast to existing processing aids) is non-toxic, odorless, non-caustic to the environment and non-corrosive to equipment.
• PURE Control is neutral to positive relative to processing yield impact. Current toxic interventions can have a negative impact on yield.
• Uniquely effective, SDC also helps mitigate bacterial resistance, which is a problematic issue with other commonly used chemistries.

About PURE Bioscience, Inc.

PURE Bioscience, Inc. is focused on developing and commercializing our proprietary antimicrobial products primarily in the food safety arena -- providing solutions to the health and environmental challenges of pathogen and hygienic control. Our technology platform is based on patented stabilized ionic silver, and our initial products contain silver dihydrogen citrate, or SDC. SDC is a broad-spectrum, non-toxic antimicrobial agent, which offers 24-hour residual protection and formulates well with other compounds. As a platform technology, SDC is distinguished from existing products in the marketplace because of its superior efficacy, reduced toxicity and it mitigates bacterial resistance. PURE is headquartered in El Cajon, California (San Diego metropolitan area). Additional information on PURE is available at www.purebio.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company’s failure to implement or otherwise achieve the benefits of its proposed business initiatives and plans; acceptance of the Company’s current and future products and services in the marketplace, including the Company’s ability to convert successful evaluations and tests for PURE Control into customer orders and customers continuing to place product orders as expected and to expand their use of the Company’s products; the ability of the Company to develop effective new products and receive required regulatory approvals for such products, including the required data and regulatory approvals required to use its SDC-based technology as a direct food contact processing aid in raw meat processing and to expand its use in OLR poultry processing; the Company’s ability to successfully complete additional in-plant tests for PURE Control; competitive factors; dependence upon third-party vendors, including to manufacture its products; and other risks detailed in the Company’s periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2016, its Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended October 31, 2016, second quarter ended January 31, 2017, and third quarter ended April 30, 2017. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.