A method for treating a perishable product including determining a desired product treatment outcome selected from sanitation, protection, preservation, or enhancement of the perishable product; directly applying a substance to the surface of the perishable product after harvesting using a carrier; wet or dry washing the perishable product; and packaging the perishable product. A system for treating a perishable product with a substance treatment including one or more devices for directed substance application to a surface of the perishable products prior to final packaging of the perishable product using a carrier; and wherein the one or more devices is an electrostatically charging device or a nebulizer Embodiments of the invention enhance the efficacy of sanitizers and other functional substances for increasing the quality, safety, and overall shelf life of perishable products through improved coating and distribution of the sanitizers and functional substances on the surface of perishable product.

A capture unit for use with an antimicrobial application unit may include an upstream filter and a downstream filter. The upstream filter may be positioned to receive effluent from the application unit and to filter solid components from the effluent. The resultant upstream effluent filtrate may then be passed downstream to the downstream filter. The downstream filter may be used to filter an antimicrobial component from the upstream effluent filtrate and the resultant downstream effluent filtrate may be suitable for disposal as wastewater discharge. The antimicrobial is preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, is more preferably an alkylpyridinium chloride, and is most preferably cetylpyridinium chloride.

A capture unit for use with an antimicrobial application unit may include an upstream filter and a downstream filter. The upstream filter may be positioned to receive effluent from the application unit and to filter solid components from the effluent. The resultant upstream effluent filtrate may then be passed downstream to the downstream filter. The downstream filter may be used to filter an antimicrobial component from the upstream effluent filtrate and the resultant downstream effluent filtrate may be suitable for disposal as wastewater discharge. The antimicrobial is preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, is more preferably an alkylpyridinium chloride, and is most preferably cetylpyridinium chloride.

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.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems, compositions, and methods for sanitizing a food product with an alkaline antimicrobial composition. For example, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to a composition for sanitizing a food product with regard to at least one microorganism without substantial residue of the composition left on the sanitized food product, the composition comprising (a) at least one quaternary ammonium compound (b) a base, and (c) at least one solubility enhancing agent. The present disclosure also relates to a system for sanitizing a food product, the system comprising a housing, a plurality of work pieces passing through the housing, a conduit for applying an alkaline antimicrobial composition to the work pieces, and a chiller.

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to systems, compositions, and methods for sanitizing a food product with an alkaline antimicrobial composition. For example, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to a composition for sanitizing a food product with regard to at least one microorganism without substantial residue of the composition left on the sanitized food product, the composition comprising (a) at least one quaternary ammonium compound (b) a base, and (c) at least one solubility enhancing agent. The present disclosure also relates to a system for sanitizing a food product, the system comprising a housing, a plurality of work pieces passing through the housing, a conduit for applying an alkaline antimicrobial composition to the work pieces, and a chiller.

A produce wash system, method, and short-term wash treatment are provided. For example, the produce wash system includes a produce line including a short-term wash device 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 is applied using a spray device that creates micrometer sized droplets, and wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the product reaches the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment from the product defining the end of the pretreatment time. 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, method, and short-term wash treatment are provided. For example, the produce wash system includes a produce line including a short-term wash device 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 is applied using a spray device that creates micrometer sized droplets, and wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the product reaches the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment from the product defining the end of the pretreatment time. 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.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectade into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectade towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectade towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.