There are provided methods of treating edible matter comprising applying a composition comprising performic acid to the edible matter or a substrate therefor. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Disclosed are embodiments of a composition including propanoic acid, a C.sub.4 acid salt, and a component selected from a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 acid ester and a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 aldehyde and combinations thereof. The composition is provided in an aqueous medium. Each of the propanoic acid and the C.sub.4 acid salt are independently present in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide to said composition a pH greater than about 4.4.

Disclosed are embodiments of a composition including propanoic acid, a C.sub.4 acid salt, and a component selected from a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 acid ester and a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 aldehyde and combinations thereof. The composition is provided in an aqueous medium. Each of the propanoic acid and the C.sub.4 acid salt are independently present in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide to said composition a pH greater than about 4.4.

The invention provides a seed treatment method comprising: (i) mixing starting materials (7) comprising an aqueous liquid (2), anaerobic bacteria (1), a substrate (3) for the anaerobic bacteria, and seeds (4), to provide a mixture (10) having a void volume (15) between the seeds, wherein at least 50% of the void volume comprises the aqueous liquid, (ii) storing the mixture in a condition to prevent oxygen from entering the mixture during a treatment time, to provide treated seeds (9), wherein the treatment time is at least 6 hours and at maximum 14 days, and (iii) collecting the treated seeds (9) from the mixture (10).

A food product is coated within an aqueous solution. The solution includes: at least one edible acid; and at least one osmotic agent, and wherein after the solution reaches equilibrium with the food product, the resultant pH of the solution is between about 1 and 4 and in some embodiments subsequently adjusted to between 3.5 and 5.5. The food product thus prepared remains deliciously palatable and safely edible for prolonged periods without refrigeration.

A food product is coated within an aqueous solution. The solution includes: at least one edible acid; and at least one osmotic agent, and wherein after the solution reaches equilibrium with the food product, the resultant pH of the solution is between about 1 and 4 and in some embodiments subsequently adjusted to between 3.5 and 5.5. The food product thus prepared remains deliciously palatable and safely edible for prolonged periods without refrigeration.

Disclosed are embodiments of a composition including propanoic acid, a C.sub.4 acid salt, and a component selected from a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 acid ester and a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 aldehyde and combinations thereof. The composition is provided in an aqueous medium. Each of the propanoic acid and the C.sub.4 acid salt are independently present in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide to said composition a pH greater than about 4.4.

Disclosed are embodiments of a composition including propanoic acid, a C.sub.4 acid salt, and a component selected from a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 acid ester and a C.sub.2-C.sub.5 aldehyde and combinations thereof. The composition is provided in an aqueous medium. Each of the propanoic acid and the C.sub.4 acid salt are independently present in an amount at least partially sufficient to provide to said composition a pH greater than about 4.4.

This invention relates to agriculture, more specifically, to processing of grain, pulse and cereal crop grains, in particular, to a composition for the treatment of grain, pulse and cereal crop grains before processing wherein the composition includes a combination of enzyme preparations containing cellulases, cellobiohydrolases, xylanases, catalases, phytases, peroxidases, oxidoreduetases, laccases, esterases and antioxidants. An object of the present technical solution is to increase the output of flour or grit mills with a concurrent gain in the quality and dietary value of the milled products.

Microbicidal compositions including (a) monochloramine and (b) at least one peracid, are described. Components (a) and (b) can be present in a synergistically effective amount to control the growth of at least one microorganism. Methods for controlling the growth of microorganisms with the application of the monochloramine and at least one peracid are also disclosed.