ALKALINE ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOSITIONS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS

• US 20170119026A1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Safe Foods Corporation
• Original Assignee: Safe Foods Corporation
• Inventors: Baker, Rob
• Application Number:
  US15/009,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20170119026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/20 Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/24 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/30 by spraying of liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3526 Organic compounds containing nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3544 Organic compounds containing hetero rings
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3589 Apparatus for preserving using liquids

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. 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:

at least one quaternary ammonium compound;

a base;

at least one solubility enhancing agent,

wherein the composition has an alkaline pH;

wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound comprises;

a structure according to Formula I;

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound is present at a concentration of about 0.000001% by weight to about 5% by weight.

3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound comprises a concentration, the concentration comprising about 0.32% by weight, about 0.5% by weight, or about 0.55% by weight.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the alkaline pH is about 10.2 to about 10.8.

5. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one solubility enhancing agent comprises propylene glycol.

6. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one solubility enhancing agent comprises a concentration of about 0.1 equivalent of the concentration of the at least one quaternary ammonium compound to about 6 equivalents of the concentration of the at least one quaternary ammonium compound.

7. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the temperature is about 80°

F. to about 120°

F.

8. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one microorganism comprises Salmonella.

9. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one microorganism comprises Campylobacter.

10. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the food product comprises poultry, pork, beef, seafood, a fruit, and a vegetable, or a combination thereof.

11. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is reconstituted from an antimicrobial stock solution.

12. A composition according to claim 11, wherein the antimicrobial stock solution comprises at least one quaternary ammonium compound and at least one solubility enhancing agent.

13. A method for sanitizing a food product with regard to at least one microorganism, the method comprising:

contacting the food product with an alkaline antimicrobial composition at a temperature ≧

75°

F. before the food product enters a chiller;

separating the alkaline antimicrobial composition from the food product to form a sanitized food product,

wherein the sanitized food product is substantially free of the alkaline antimicrobial composition residue,

wherein the alkaline antimicrobial composition comprises at least one quaternary ammonium compound, at least one solubility enhancing agent, an alkaline solution,

wherein the alkaline solution comprises water, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or combination thereof;

wherein the at least one microorganism comprises Salmonella, Campylobacter, or combinations thereof;

wherein the at least one solubility enhancing agent comprises propylene glycol, glycerol, or a combination thereof;

wherein the alkaline solution pH is about 9.5 to about 12;

wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound comprises;

a structure according to Formula I;

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one microorganism comprises Salmonella.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one microorganism comprises Campylobacter.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one quaternary compound is present at a concentration of about 0.000001% by weight to about 5% by weight.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein the food product comprises poultry, pork, beef, seafood, a fruit, and a vegetable, or a combination thereof.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein the temperature is about 80°

F. to about 120°

F.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein the alkaline solution pH is about 10.2 to about 10.8.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one solubility enhancing agent comprises propylene glycol, glycerol, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the at least one solubility enhancing agent comprises a concentration of about 0.1 equivalent of the concentration of the at least one quaternary ammonium compound to about 6 equivalents of the concentration of the at least one quaternary ammonium compound.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound comprises a concentration, the concentration comprising about 0.32% by weight, about 0.5% by weight, or about 0.55% by weight.

22. A method according to claim 13, wherein the alkaline antimicrobial composition is reconstituted from an antimicrobial stock solution.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the antimicrobial stock solution comprises at least one quaternary ammonium compound and at least one solubility enhancing agent.

24. A system for sanitizing a food product with regard to at least one microorganism, the system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of work pieces passing through the housing;

a conduit disposed within the housing for applying an alkaline antimicrobial composition to the work pieces;

a rinse configured to apply a rinse solution to the work pieces;

a chiller configured to reduce the temperature of the work pieces following application of the alkaline antimicrobial composition;

wherein the alkaline antimicrobial composition comprises;

at least one quaternary ammonium compound;

a base;

at least one solubility enhancing agent,

wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound comprises;

a structure according to Formula I;

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one quaternary compound is present at a concentration of about 0.000001% by weight to about 5% by weight.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the temperature is about 80°

F. to about 120°

F.

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein the food product comprises poultry, pork, beef, seafood, a fruit, and a vegetable, or a combination thereof.

28. The system according to claim 24, wherein the at least one quaternary ammonium compound comprises a concentration, the concentration comprising about 0.32% by weight, about 0.5% by weight, or about 0.55% by weight.

29. The system according to claim 24, wherein the alkaline antimicrobial composition is reconstituted from an antimicrobial stock solution.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the antimicrobial stock solution comprises at least one quaternary ammonium compound and at least one solubility enhancing agent.