Sanitisining treatments of water and fluid process in the food good industry are mandatory to prevent bacteria and biofilm growth in numerous production lines machines and equipment, for activities and operations as: washing and transporting of fruit and vegetables, processing of fish and meat, washing of containers for foods and beverages, production of frozen foods, production of beer mineral water and soft drinks. Following the successful use of a special electrochemical system set up to monitor biofilm growth in industrial cooling waters systems of sea water and fresh water (rivers), a new application of on- line biofilm electrochemical monitoring was experimented in a bottled water and soft drink plant. The tests were conducted in laboratory and in a pilot plant of an industrial site. The results confirmed the electrochemical probe able to detect on-line the earlier stages of biofilm growth on metal (stainless steel) surface. It permitted the monitoring and optimisation of some sanitising oxidant treatments of water. The system is a promising tool offering interesting performance for several potential applications of food processing plants.PUBBLICATO A5026256 (PAD – 658925)