Method of decontamination of food

• US 5,535,667 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Mielnik, Thaddeus, Dalmasso, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US08/485,734
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 99/467, 99/472, 99/477, 99/483, 422/27, 422/28, 422/29, 422/33, 422/298, 422/304, 422/302
• US Class Current: 99/472
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/144 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 7/157 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 9/18 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/3409 in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/358 Inorganic compounds

Abstract

A method and system of decontaminating the surface of food products including seeds, grains, nuts, spices, fruits and dried and dehydrated food with hydrogen peroxide vapor is provided.

Claims

1. A system for decontaminating food products, comprising:

(a) a generator for generating a vapor consisting essentially of hydrogen peroxide vapor and water vapor;

(b) a treatment chamber consisting of a preheating portion for preheating the food product and a treatment portion for receiving the vapor and for containing the food product, wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of dried foods, dehydrated foods, or mixture thereof;

(c) means for introducing the vapor into the chamber; and

(d) means for placing the chamber under vacuum.

2. The system according to claim 1, which further comprises a residue removing means for removing substantially all hydrogen peroxide vapor residue from the food product.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the residue removing means is a heat source for heating the atmosphere around the food product to drive off substantially all hydrogen peroxide vapor residue.

4. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a conduit for transporting the food product into and out of the exposure chamber.