The Invention relates to a fermented onion composition having a dry matter content of at least 8 wt. %, said composition comprising, per gram of dry matter: a) 0-150 mg of saccharides selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose and combinations thereof; b) 5-250 mg of phenols selected from acid equivalent of gallic acid, acid equivalent of ferulic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and combinations thereof; c) 75-500 mg acid equivalent of organic acid selected from propionic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and combinations thereof, including at least 200 mg lactic acid equivalent and/or at least 75 mg propionic acid equivalent and/or at least 120 mg acetic acid equivalent; wherein the combination of components a) to c) constitutes 50-89 wt. % of the dry matter that is contained in the composition; and wherein at least 90 wt. % of the composition is dissolved at a temperature of 20° C. when the composition is diluted with distilled water to a dry matter content of 5 wt. %.

The fermented onion composition of the present invention can advantageously be used as an effective, label friendly food ingredient to increase overall quality of foods.

The invention also provides a method of preparing a fermented onion composition, comprising: providing an onion substrate containing 10-50 wt. % dry matter and 50-90 wt. % water, wherein at least 40 wt. % of the dry matter is derived from onion; inoculating the substrate with a micro-organism selected from lactic acid producing bacteria, Propionibacterium, acetic acid producing bacteria and combinations thereof; and incubating the inoculated substrate at a temperature in the range of 25-60° C. for at least 12 hours to produce an onion ferment.

The Invention relates to a fermented onion composition having a dry matter content of at least 8 wt. %, said composition comprising, per gram of dry matter: a) 0-150 mg of saccharides selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose and combinations thereof; b) 5-250 mg of phenols selected from acid equivalent of gallic acid, acid equivalent of ferulic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and combinations thereof; c) 75-500 mg acid equivalent of organic acid selected from propionic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid and combinations thereof, including at least 200 mg lactic acid equivalent and/or at least 75 mg propionic acid equivalent and/or at least 120 mg acetic acid equivalent; wherein the combination of components a) to c) constitutes 50-89 wt. % of the dry matter that is contained in the composition; and wherein at least 90 wt. % of the composition is dissolved at a temperature of 20° C. when the composition is diluted with distilled water to a dry matter content of 5 wt. %.

The fermented onion composition of the present invention can advantageously be used as an effective, label friendly food ingredient to increase overall quality of foods.

The invention also provides a method of preparing a fermented onion composition, comprising: providing an onion substrate containing 10-50 wt. % dry matter and 50-90 wt. % water, wherein at least 40 wt. % of the dry matter is derived from onion; inoculating the substrate with a micro-organism selected from lactic acid producing bacteria, Propionibacterium, acetic acid producing bacteria and combinations thereof; and incubating the inoculated substrate at a temperature in the range of 25-60° C. for at least 12 hours to produce an onion ferment.

A method for treating a perishable product is provided, the method comprising: determining a desired product treatment outcome selected from sanitization, protection, preservation, or enhancement of the perishable product; after harvesting, wet or dry washing the perishable product; directly or indirectly applying a substance to the surface of the perishable product using a carrier; and packaging the perishable product. A system for treating a perishable product with a substance treatment is provided, the system comprising: 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 which use multiple, sequenced, and engineered applications enhance the efficacy of sanitizers and other functional substances for increasing the quality, safety, and overall shelf life of perishable products.

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.

The present invention relates to preservation of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective inhibition or prevention of bacterial outgrowth in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of carvacrol and a cationic surfactant was effective in the inhibition or prevention of bacterial outgrowth in meat products. The combinations, more in particular, proved to be effective at levels that do not result in significant effects on the flavor and/or taste of the products. The present inventors furthermore found that treatment of meat products with the combinations of this invention had a favorable effect on the visual appearance (color) of the meat products. The present invention provides preservative compositions, the use of thereof as well as the meat products containing them.

The present invention relates to preservation of meat products. In particular new additives are provided for effective inhibition or prevention of bacterial outgrowth in meat products. The present inventors found that a combination of carvacrol and a cationic surfactant was effective in the inhibition or prevention of bacterial outgrowth in meat products. The combinations, more in particular, proved to be effective at levels that do not result in significant effects on the flavor and/or taste of the products. The present inventors furthermore found that treatment of meat products with the combinations of this invention had a favorable effect on the visual appearance (color) of the meat products. The present invention provides preservative compositions, the use of thereof as well as the meat products containing them.

The invention relates to treated cellulosic fibers comprising internally dispersed cuprous oxide (Cu.sub.2O) nanoparticles, methods of preparing such treated cellulosic fibers, and uses of such treated cellulosic fibers.

The invention relates to treated cellulosic fibers comprising internally dispersed cuprous oxide (Cu.sub.2O) nanoparticles, methods of preparing such treated cellulosic fibers, and uses of such treated cellulosic fibers.

This invention provides processes comprising contacting at least one unopened defeathered poultry carcass with water containing a microbiocidal composition, optionally opening and eviscerating at least one unopened defeathered poultry carcass that was wetted; subjecting at least one eviscerated poultry carcass to inside-outside washing with water containing a microbiocidal composition; placing at least one eviscerated poultry carcass in a chill tank into contact with chill water containing a microbiocidal composition; contacting parts of poultry resulting from processing of poultry containing a microbiocidal composition. The water in these processes contains a microbiocidal composition comprising I) one or more surfactants and II) a microbiocidal amount of a biocide. The surfactants include amine oxides and/or betaines. The biocides include various chlorine-based and bromine-based biocides; chlorine dioxide; and peracetic acid.