A meat-aging apparatus is disclosed. The meat-aging apparatus comprises: a photographing unit for photographing meat stored in the meat-aging apparatus; an illumination unit for irradiating light to the meat; a storage unit for storing recipe information for aging the meat according to the type or state of the meat; and a processor for determining the type or state of the meat on the basis of a photographed image, and controlling the illumination unit to irradiate light to the meat according to the recipe information corresponding to the determined type or state of the meat in order to age the meat.

The present disclosure relates to an air modifying device for extending the shelf life of a fresh product and to methods of extending the shelf life of fresh products. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure comprise an air modifying device for extending shelf life of a fresh product. The device comprises a hollow body, one or more means for moving air or a gas through the hollow body, a surface within the hollow body, the surface comprising a metal oxide, and a source of UV light within the body to direct UV light onto the surface comprising the metal oxide, wherein irradiation of the metal oxide with the UV light modifies the air or gas moved through the device so that release of the modified air or gas from the device into the atmosphere around the fresh product extends the shelf life of the fresh product.

Provided are methods of reducing and killing bacteria and fungi, and photodynamic treatment methods and sterilization methods using the methods of reducing and killing bacteria and fungi. The method of reducing and killing bacteria and fungi includes bringing a composition including a Ligularia fischeri extract or a fraction thereof as an active ingredient into contact with cells or tissues of a subject and irradiating cells or tissues of a subject in contact with the composition with an absorbable wavelength of excitation light.

Provided are methods of reducing and killing bacteria and fungi, and photodynamic treatment methods and sterilization methods using the methods of reducing and killing bacteria and fungi. The method of reducing and killing bacteria and fungi includes bringing a composition including a Ligularia fischeri extract or a fraction thereof as an active ingredient into contact with cells or tissues of a subject and irradiating cells or tissues of a subject in contact with the composition with an absorbable wavelength of excitation light.

A system and method for energy control in general and more specifically a system and a method for controlling a threshold energy level for a chemical reaction is provided.

This is performed using a pad having an impression of an energy.

A system and method for energy control in general and more specifically a system and a method for controlling a threshold energy level for a chemical reaction is provided.

This is performed using a pad having an impression of an energy.

Disclosed are methods for killing or reducing the incidence of pathogenic bacteria, comprising contacting the bacteria with a PURAC CL 21/80 solution (1-2.5% by weight) comprising lactic acid in an amount ranging from about 0.43% to 1.23% by weight and citric acid in an amount ranging from about 0.29% to about 0.88% by weight. In some aspects, the pathogenic bacteria can be present on a meat product.

An assembly is provided for turning a food product into slices of food product. The assembly includes a microbial treatment assembly configured to move the food product along a path, and a microbial intervention apparatus configured to substantially reduce an amount of microbes on an exterior surface of the food product while the food product is traveling along the path, a slicing machine downstream of the microbial treatment assembly, the slicing machine being configured to slice the food product into slices, an enclosure in which the slicing machine is positioned, the enclosure being sealed from outside atmosphere, and a microbial treatment apparatus in communication with the enclosure and configured to deter the growth of microbes on the food product.

An assembly is provided for turning a food product into slices of food product. The assembly includes a microbial treatment assembly configured to move the food product along a path, and a microbial intervention apparatus configured to substantially reduce an amount of microbes on an exterior surface of the food product while the food product is traveling along the path, a slicing machine downstream of the microbial treatment assembly, the slicing machine being configured to slice the food product into slices, an enclosure in which the slicing machine is positioned, the enclosure being sealed from outside atmosphere, and a microbial treatment apparatus in communication with the enclosure and configured to deter the growth of microbes on the food product.

A system for treating whole meat material and grinding whole meat material into ground meat product includes a microbial treatment station including a hopper into which whole meat material is deposited, a conveyor which conveys the whole meat material, and a microbial intervention apparatus configured to treat the whole meat material to substantially reduce an amount of microbes on an exterior surface of a whole meat material; a grinding station including a grinder downstream of the conveyor and operatively connected to the microbial treatment station, the grinder having a orifice plate through which the whole meat material passes and is ground into ground meat product and a cavity downstream of the orifice plate which receives the ground meat product and a microbial treatment apparatus in communication with the cavity and configured to treat the ground meat product to deter growth of microbes on the ground meat product.