ZINC COMPOUNDS IN FOOD IMMERSION APPLICATIONS
A method of treating a food product includes immersing the food product in a treatment solution, the treatment solution including a zinc compound. A treatment solution for immersion applications of food products includes a zinc compound. A system for treating a food product includes: a container configured to receive the food product; and a treatment solution contained within the container. The container and treatment solution are capable of immersing the food product and the treatment solution includes a zinc compound.
1 . A method of treating a food product, comprising:
immersing the food product in a treatment solution;
wherein the treatment solution comprises a zinc compound.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the food product comprises poultry and the treatment solution comprises 30-1000 ppm of zinc.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the food product comprises beef or pork and the treatment solution comprises 200-400 ppm of zinc.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the food product comprises a fruit or vegetable and the treatment solution comprises 20-100 ppm of zinc.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment solution further comprises an acid selected from sulfuric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, lactic acid, and/or malic acid.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein a weight ratio of the sulfuric acid to zinc in the treatment solution is from 1:30 to 1:1.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the treatment solution comprises 300-700 ppm of zinc.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pH of the treatment solution is less than 3.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the zinc compound comprises zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc nitrate, zinc oxide nanoparticles, zinc performate, zinc peracetate, or combinations thereof.
11 . A treatment solution for immersion applications of food products, the treatment solution comprising:
a zinc compound in an amount such that the treatment solution comprises 20-3000 ppm of zinc.
12 . The treatment solution of claim 11 , further comprising an acid selected from sulfuric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, lactic acid, and/or malic acid.
13 . The treatment solution of claim 12 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.
14 . The treatment solution of claim 11 , wherein a pH of the treatment solution is less than 3.
15 . The treatment solution of claim 11 , wherein the zinc compound comprises zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc nitrate, zinc oxide nanoparticles, zinc performate, zinc peracetate, or combinations thereof.
16 . A system for treating a food product, the system comprising:
a container configured to receive the food product; and
a treatment solution contained within the container;
wherein the container and treatment solution are capable of immersing the food product; and
wherein the treatment solution comprises a zinc compound.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the treatment solution further comprises an acid selected from sulfuric acid, acetic acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, lactic acid, and/or malic acid.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the acid is sulfuric acid.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein a weight ratio of the sulfuric acid to zinc in the treatment solution is from 1:30 to 1:1.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the zinc compound comprises zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc nitrate, zinc oxide nanoparticles, zinc performate, zinc peracetate, or combinations thereof.