Process for washing and sterilizing food products, particularly vegetables, and relevant apparatus

• US 7,955,631 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turatti SPA
• Original Assignee: Turatti SPA
• Inventors: Turatti, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Becker; Drew E
• Application Number:
  US11/555,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20070212457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 426/237, 426/238, 426/248, 426/320, 426/324, 426/326, 426/333, 426/335, 426/392, 426/418, 426/419, 426/455, 426/456, 426/490, 426/495
• US Class Current: 426/238
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/015 Preserving by irradiation or electric treatment without heating effect
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/157 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/158 Apparatus for preserving using liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/57 Chemical peeling or cleaning of harvested fruits, vegetables or other foodstuffs mechanical aspect A23N, A23P
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 12/00 Machines for cleaning, blanching, drying or roasting fruits or vegetables, e.g. coffee, cocoa, nuts methods for treating, e.g. roasting, coffee or cocoa, A23F, A23G; cleaning, e.g. washing, or drying grain B02B1/00; separating solids from solids for cleaning B07B; cleaning in general B08B; heating devices per se, see the relevant classes, e.g. F24; drying machines in general F26B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for washing and sterilizing food products, particularly vegetables. The process comprises the following steps: (a) treatment of the food products by ultrasounds, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering; (b) treatment of the food products under ozone atmosphere, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering; (c) treatment of the food products by ultraviolet rays; and (d) dewatering and drying the food products under controlled atmosphere. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above process.

Claims

1. A process for washing and sterilising food products, wherein it comprises the following steps:

(a) treatment of said food products in a first body of water by ultrasounds, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering said first body of water;

(b) treatment of said food products in a second body of water under ozone atmosphere, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering said second body of water;

(c) treatment of said food products by ultraviolet rays;

(d) dewatering and drying said food products under controlled atmosphere wherein micro filtering treatment of step (b) can hold particles with a diameter lower than 30 microns;

the ozone saturated water in steps (b) and (c) reacts under irradiation of said ultraviolet rays, thus forming strong oxidising radicals, according to the following chemical reaction chain;

O₃+H₂O→

O₂+H₂O₂

H₂O₂+H₂O→

HO₂+H₃O⁺;

and further wherein said process comprises a further step, carried out between said step (c) and said step (d), said further step providing treatment of food products by a calcium ascorbate natural solution.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasounds have a frequency between 20 kHz and 40 kHz.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein ozone treatment of step (b) is realised by washing the products in ozone saturated water.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein drying of said foodstuff products occurs under a passivating air flow.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein said calcium ascorbate solution is sprayed on said food products.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein said process provides a pre-washing and scrubbing step before said step (a).