The efficacy of a food grade acidic chemical agent for the reduction of Clostridium sporogenes spores on a stainless steel surface was investigated. The chemical agent was a combination of selected fatty acids and lactate esters. Distilled deionized water and 35% hydrogen peroxide were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. Approximately 3 log cfu reductions in viable spore numbers were detected on the steel surfaces for all treatments at room temperature, except the controls. Reductions in the viable spore numbers significantly increased with increasing exposure times and concentrations of the acidic agent. Five log reduction of viable spore number was achieved after 10 min treatment with the 10% agent solution at 68 degrees C. No viable spores were observed on the 10% agent treated sample after a 60 min exposure time at 75 inverted perpendicular C. This research showed that the acidic sanitizer tested in this study could be used to reduce the number of C. sporogenes spores on stainless steel surfaces. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.