The present disclosure provides systems and methods for treatment of substratessuch as foodstuffswith a high pH composition and an oxidizer. These systems and methods give rise to enhanced disinfection performance.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for treatment of substratessuch as foodstuffswith a high pH composition and an oxidizer. These systems and methods give rise to enhanced disinfection performance.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems and methods can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include an injectate reservoir, a filter, a first pump configured to force injectate from the injectate reservoir and through the filter, a nozzle configured to inject injectate into a food product without having the nozzle contact the food, and a valve that is configured to selectively open and close to regulate when and how much of the injectate that passes through the filter is forced out of the nozzle. In some cases, the described systems further include a chiller configured to cool injectate in the reservoir, a sensor configured to determine a distance between the nozzle and food item, an actuator configured to move the nozzle, and/or a computer processor that controls an amount of injectate sprayed from the nozzle. Other implementations are described.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems and methods can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include an injectate reservoir, a filter, a first pump configured to force injectate from the injectate reservoir and through the filter, a nozzle configured to inject injectate into a food product without having the nozzle contact the food, and a valve that is configured to selectively open and close to regulate when and how much of the injectate that passes through the filter is forced out of the nozzle. In some cases, the described systems further include a chiller configured to cool injectate in the reservoir, a sensor configured to determine a distance between the nozzle and food item, an actuator configured to move the nozzle, and/or a computer processor that controls an amount of injectate sprayed from the nozzle. Other implementations are described.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and methods for measuring, monitoring, and/or controlling the chemical concentration of one or more active ingredients in a solution for treating plants and plant crops, such as fruits and vegetables.

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 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.

Methods and apparatus for a short-term wash treatment used in a food-processing system are provided. One example control system includes an interface configured to receive one or more first sensor signals from the food-processing system; and a processing system coupled to the interface and configured to determine, based on the one or more first sensor signals, to reduce an intensity of the short-term wash treatment; generate a first control signal to cause an increase in a pH of the short-term wash treatment in response to the determination; and control application of the short-term wash treatment with the increased pH to a product in the food-processing system. Further the system may include a human machine interface (HMI) configured to display information from the processing system to a user.