Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C.sub.2-C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C.sub.8-C.sub.12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C.sub.8-C.sub.12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid.

The present invention relates to new antimicrobial compositions and their use in the treatment of products such as food products.

The present invention relates to compositions including medium chain peroxycarboxylic acid, methods for making these compositions, and methods for reducing the population of a microorganism. The compositions can include advantageously high levels of the medium chain peroxycarboxylic acid, can be readily made, and/or can exhibit reduced odor.

An antimicrobial composition comprises at least one or more organic acid or salt in water, one or more antimicrobial agent which has limited water-solubility. The composition contains high active content and is stable for long period of time.

A vinegar-derived food additive, methods of making, uses thereof. A vinegar-derived food additive may be an antimicrobial or a buffering food additive. A vinegar-derived food additive may comprise vinegar-derived acetate in the form of a dry powder or solution. Vinegar-derived acetate may have a pH of about 4.5 to about 10.0. Vinegar may be treated with basic neutralizing agent to produce partially-neutralized vinegar having a pH of below about 7.0. Partially-neutralized vinegar may be dried to produce a vinegar-derived acetate dry powder. Untreated vinegar may be added back produce vinegar-derived acetate dry powder or solution having a pH of about 4.5 to about 10.0. Antimicrobial food additives may have a pH of about 4.5 to about 7.0. Buffering food additives may a pH of about 7.0 to about 10.0. Vinegar-derived food additives may be used to process foods and beverages.

Compositions for forming protective coatings can include a first group of compounds, where each compound of the first group is a fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or fatty acid salt having a carbon chain length of at least 14 carbons. The compositions can optionally include a second group of compounds selected from fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, and combinations thereof, wherein each compound of the second group has a carbon chain length from 7 to 13 carbons. At least some of the compounds of the first group can function as emulsifiers, allowing the composition to be dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in a solvent. At least some of the compounds of the second group can function as wetting agents in order to improve the surface wetting of items to be coated when solutions, suspensions, or colloids that include the compositions are applied to the items.

A process for reducing the bacterial count on a poultry carcass during poultry processing after the picking stage and prior to the chilling stage by applying an intervention solution having at least one equilibrium peroxycarboxylic acid or a pH modified peroxycarboxylic acid comprising peroxyacetic acid to the poultry carcass at an elevated temperature above 100 F. and at an elevated concentration of at least 200 ppm for a desired period of time of less than about 30 seconds to reduce the bacterial count by at least 60 percent. The process providing acceptable antimicrobial control in poultry processing prior to the chilling stage.

Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C.sub.2-C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C.sub.8-C.sub.12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C.sub.8-C.sub.12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid.

Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C.sub.2-C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C.sub.8-C.sub.12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C.sub.8-C.sub.12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid.

The preservation or extension of the life of oxygen perishable products such as fresh or cooked meats; fresh vegetables and fruits; dried vegetables, fruits and meats; packaged pharmaceuticals or biologicals; open and enclosed marketing display cases of meats, fruits and vegetables; and packaging, warehousing and transportation of meats, fruits, and vegetables is obtained by subjecting such products to an atmosphere obtained from gas permeable packets of an oxygen scavenging composition comprising a sodium carbonate mineral and one or more carboxylic acids. When the environment surrounding the oxygen perishable product is subjected to the packets of gaseous permeable oxygen scavenging compositions, oxygen is taken in by the scavenging composition and also the presence of carbon dioxide in the surrounding environment is enhanced thereby minimizing or eliminating the effect the oxygen on the oxygen perishable products.