The present invention is based on the surprising result that packaging materials comprising at least one moisture modulating agent can significantly reduce moisture loss, physical damage, and/or microbial decay of produce. Inclusion of such moisture modulating agent(s) can provide at least one of the following advantages: (1) less disease development as compared to traditional packaging material; (2) fresher, firmer produce with less rot or defects (for example cracking or splitting); (3) better see-through as compared to traditional packaging material; (4) preventing the humidity inside the bag from coalescing into large drops or even pools of water (i.e., less water accumulation or moisture condensation within the package); and (5) providing sufficient gas transmission of oxygen (O.sub.2)/carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and/or a quality management agent, for example ethylene or 1-MCP, for better quality control during storage at room temperature (shelf life).

The present invention is based on the surprising result that packaging materials comprising at least one moisture modulating agent can significantly reduce moisture loss, physical damage, and/or microbial decay of produce. Inclusion of such moisture modulating agent(s) can provide at least one of the following advantages: (1) less disease development as compared to traditional packaging material; (2) fresher, firmer produce with less rot or defects (for example cracking or splitting); (3) better see-through as compared to traditional packaging material; (4) preventing the humidity inside the bag from coalescing into large drops or even pools of water (i.e., less water accumulation or moisture condensation within the package); and (5) providing sufficient gas transmission of oxygen (O.sub.2)/carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and/or a quality management agent, for example ethylene or 1-MCP, for better quality control during storage at room temperature (shelf life).

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

The present invention relates to microbial safety of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective reduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), on or in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of a nonionic surfactant and organic acid is particularly effective in the reduction of these and other pathogenic bacteria in meat products. The addition of a thickening agent was found to further enhance the effectiveness of the compositions in eliminating these pathogenic bacteria. The present invention provides these meat preservation compositions, the methods of treating meat with these compositions, the related uses of these compositions, as well as the meat products accordingly obtained.

A produce wash system is provided. The produce wash system includes a produce line including a short-term wash device and a rinse transition component followed by a wash device, a short-term wash treatment that is applied by the short-term wash device to a product, wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the short-term wash treatment is rinsed off, and a rinse solution applied by the rinse transition component that rinses the product after the product leaves the short-term wash device and before the product enters the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses any remaining short-term wash treatment from the product. The pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.

A produce wash system is provided. The produce wash system includes a produce line including a short-term wash device and a rinse transition component followed by a wash device, a short-term wash treatment that is applied by the short-term wash device to a product, wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the short-term wash treatment is rinsed off, and a rinse solution applied by the rinse transition component that rinses the product after the product leaves the short-term wash device and before the product enters the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses any remaining short-term wash treatment from the product. The pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.

A chiller bath includes a tank for holding a volume of chiller water; a dosing system for dosing a first solution and a second solution into the chiller water, arranged to create a plurality of zones within the volume of water, wherein each zone has a higher concentration of either the first or the second solution than surrounding portions of the volume of water; and a meat or poultry immersion arrangement for immersing and moving carcasses in the chiller water. A method for reducing bacterial load on meat or poultry includes generating a plurality of zones within a chiller bath containing water by dosing a source of alkalinity and antimicrobial into the water, wherein the plurality of zones comprises at least one alkaline zone with a pH above 8.5, and at least one antimicrobial zone with pH below 8.5; and submersing meat or poultry in the bath. The zones can also be generated using spray nozzles in a meat or poultry operation.