Method for preservation of produce

Details Method for preservation of produce Method for preservation of produce

2001-08-01

2004-05-11

Yeung, George C. (Department: 1761)

Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products

Packaged or wrapped product

Having specific electrical or wave energy feature

C426S240000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06733806

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a novel method and container for the preservation of produce. More particularly, it relates to irradiation of produce with electromagnetic radiation having specific wave lengths for retaining the freshness of produce, such as vegetables, fruits, and certain plants.
2. Prior Art
Currently, vegetables are preserved in plastic bags with nitrogen, excluding oxygen to avoid spoilage. This is expensive and labor-intensive. A more recent approach to preserve food is to use irradiation to dry and store food as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,911. Another method is to use radioactive substances to irradiate produce and in combination with an oxygen-reactive chemical to keep food fresh, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,510. The latter method is not safe in view of the radioactive substance. Thus there is a need for an economical and safe method to preserve produce.
The object of this invention is to use a mineral, spinel, to irradiate produce, thereby keeping it fresh.
Spinels are known for their antimicrobial properties as shown in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,246. Infrared radiation is known for its beneficial effects in sterilization of food. However, no method or product in prior art is known using spinel compounds of the general formula AB
2
O
4
as disclosed herein for preserving produce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been discovered that far-infrared radiation emitted by spinels having the general formula AB
2
O
4
preserves the freshness of produce. The radiation should be in the wavelength range from 3-30 microns, and preferably 3-18 microns. The spinel AB
2
O
4
powder mixed with resin is coated on a container such as a bag or box, and the fresh produce is stored in such a container.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5030510 (1991-07-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 5234985 (1993-08-01), Koo et al.
patent: 5707911 (1998-01-01), Rakhimov et al.
patent: 6051246 (2000-04-01), Shiau et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Method for preservation of produce does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method for preservation of produce, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for preservation of produce will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3245502