Short-term wash treatment of produce
A method of washing a food product with a short-term, intense treatment solution. One example method generally includes: applying, using a short-term wash device, a short-term wash treatment solution to the food product; and applying, using a wash device coupled to the short-term wash device, a wash treatment to the food product such that the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment solution from the food product, wherein: the short-term wash treatment solution is applied to the food product for a shorter duration than the wash treatment is applied to the food product; the short-term wash treatment solution is chemically different from the wash treatment; and the short-term wash treatment solution comprises an acidulant and a polyol.
1. A method of washing a food product, the method comprising:
applying, using a short-term wash device, a short-term wash treatment solution to the food product; and
applying, using a wash device coupled to the short-term wash device, a wash treatment to the food product such that the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment solution from the food product, wherein:
the short-term wash treatment solution is applied to the food product for a shorter duration than the wash treatment is applied to the food product;
the short-term wash treatment solution is chemically different from the wash treatment; and
the short-term wash treatment solution as applied to the food product comprises an acidulant and a polyol, the polyol being glycerin.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acidulant comprises lactic acid.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the lactic acid is between 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution and wherein the glycerin is from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the short-term wash treatment solution further comprises silver dihydrogen citrate.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the silver dihydrogen citrate is between 10 and 50 ppm of the short-term wash treatment solution.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the lactic acid is between 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution and wherein the glycerin is from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising making the short-term wash treatment solution with chloride-free water before applying the short-term wash treatment solution to the food product.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acidulant comprises phosphoric acid.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the phosphoric acid is about 6% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the acidulant is one selected from a group consisting of phosphoric acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, and bisulfide acid;
the acidulant is between 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution; and
the polyol is from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising making the short-term wash treatment solution by diluting silver hydrogen citrate in a lactic acid glycerin solution.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of:
the silver dihydrogen citrate is between 10 and 50 ppm of the short-term wash treatment solution;
lactic acid is between 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution; or
the glycerin is from 0.1% to 10% by weight of the short-term wash treatment solution.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash treatment solution is applied to the food product between 3 seconds and 1.5 minutes at a temperature between 30° F. and 50° F.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the food product comprises produce that is at least one selected from a group consisting of leafy greens, broccoli, onions, bell peppers, and squash.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wash treatment comprises:
free active chlorine from 2 to 40 ppm by weight of the wash treatment;
a compatible acidulant selected from a group consisting of phosphoric acid, citric acid, and lactic acid, wherein the compatible acidulant is from 10 to 1000 ppm by weight of the wash treatment; and
another polyol selected from a group consisting of glycerin and propylene glycol, wherein the other polyol is from 2 to 500 ppm by weight of the wash treatment.
16. A method of washing a food product, the method comprising:
applying, using a short-term wash device, a short-term wash treatment solution to the food product;
applying, using a wash device coupled to the short-term wash device, a wash treatment to the food product such that the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment solution from the food product, wherein:
the short-term wash treatment solution is applied to the food product for a shorter duration than the wash treatment is applied to the food product;
the short-term wash treatment solution is chemically different from the wash treatment;
the short-term wash treatment solution applied to the food product comprises an acidulant and a polyol; and
the wash treatment comprises:
free active chlorine from 2 to 40 ppm by weight of the wash treatment;
a compatible acidulant selected from a group consisting of phosphoric acid, citric acid, and lactic acid, wherein the compatible acidulant is from 10 to 1000 ppm by weight of the wash treatment;
another polyol selected from a group consisting of glycerin and propylene glycol, wherein the other polyol is from 2 to 500 ppm by weight of the wash treatment;
chloride from 1 to 100 ppm by weight of the wash treatment; and
peroxyacetic acid from 1 to 100 ppm by weight of the wash treatment.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash treatment solution provides a supplemental wash lethality of greater than 1 log against microbes found on the food product as compared to a lethality of the wash treatment in the wash device alone.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the short-term wash device comprises at least one from a group consisting of a rotating drum short-term wash device, an air column short-term wash device, a slicer/dicer short-term wash device, a spray curtain, a shaker, and a timing belt; and
applying the short-term wash treatment solution comprises spraying, with a spray device integrated with the at least one from the group, the short-term wash treatment solution on the food product.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the short-term wash treatment solution to the food product comprises:
submersing the food product into the short-term wash treatment solution; and
sifting the food product out of the short-term wash treatment solution.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the short-term wash treatment solution comprises spraying the short-term wash treatment solution on the food product.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a pre-rinse with wash water to the food product prior to applying the short-term wash treatment solution; and
disposing of the wash water directly after applying the pre-rinse.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the short-term wash treatment solution has greater lethality than the wash treatment; and
applying the short-term wash treatment solution comprises avoiding damage to the food product.