Food preservation compositions and methods

1. A method of preserving and/or delaying the onset of spoilage in freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains said method comprising wetting or coating the surface of the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains with a protective solution comprising either:

(A) I) a bioactive composition effective in killing and/or controlling or inhibiting the growth and proliferation of microorganisms responsible for the decay and spoilage of foods and foodstuffs at the level applied, II) water or an aqueous-based diluent, and III) 0.5 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution of a binder or other adhesive-type component for ensuring long term adherence of the bioactive composition to the surface of the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains selected from the group consisting of a wax, a soluble film-forming natural or synthetic resin, a film-forming poivmerizable resin, a film forming polymer, gum arabic, a latex, a natural phospholipid and a consumable binder material;

wherein the bioactive composition comprises a) a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, valeric acid, itaconic acid, acetic, citriconic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, aldaric acid, proprionic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, salicylic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, and benzoic acid, b) at least one source of antimicrobial metal ions which source or sources are collectively capable of releasing metal ions selected from the group consisting of a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions, and c) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric surfactant; or

(B) (A) I) a bioactive composition effective in killing and/or controlling or inhibiting the growth and proliferation of microorganisms responsible for the decay and spoilage of foods and foodstuffs at the level applied, II) water or an aqueous-based diluent, and III) optionally, 0.5 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution of a binder or other adhesive-type component for ensuring long term adherence of the bioactive composition to the surface of the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains;

wherein the bioactive composition comprises a) a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, valeric acid, itaconic acid, acetic, citriconic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, aldaric acid, proprionic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, salicylic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, and benzoic acid, b) at least one source of antimicrobial metal ions which one or more sources are collectively capable or releasing a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions, and c) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric surfactant;

wherein in both (A) and (B), i) the acid is present in at least a two times molar excess relative to the antimicrobial metal ions, ii) the pH of the acid/metal ion combination in purified water is from 1.5 to less than 6; iii) the concentration of the carboxylic acid is from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution, iv) the concentration of the antimicrobial metal ions in the protective solution is from about 2 ppm to about 1000 ppm, and v) the concentration of the surfactant is from about 0.001 to about 3 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic acid is present in an amount of from 0.1 to 4 weight percent of the protective solution.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the protective solution is solution (B).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pH is from about 2 to about 5.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the molar excess of acid relative to antimicrobial metal ions is at least 5 times molar excess.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are present at a level of from about 2 ppm to about 500 ppm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are present at a level of from about 5 ppm to about 150 ppm.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the total amount of antimicrobial metal ions is no more than 50 ppm.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the acid is from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium lauryl sulfate, a combination of sodium lauryl sulfate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide, or a combination of sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium lauryl sulfate and lauryl dimethyl amine oxide.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the protective solution is solution (B) and the binder material is present and is selected from a wax, a soluble film-forming natural or synthetic resin, a film-forming polymerizable resin, a film forming polymer, gum arabic, a latex, or a natural phospholipid.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the protective composition is applied to the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains after processing but before packaging.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains are dipped in the protective bioactive solution.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains are sprayed or coated with the protective bioactive solution.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, mono- and di-glycerides, amine oxides, ether carboxylates, betaines, suflobetaines, and glycinates.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a combination of two or more surfactants is employed, each surfactant independently selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, mono- and di-glycerides, amine oxides, ether carboxylates, betaines, suflobetaines, and glycinates.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one surfactant is selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, and amine oxides and combinations of any two or more thereof.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from citric acid, salicylic acid, glutaric acid, and tartaric acids.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the binder is present and is a film forming polymer.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the binder is present and is a consumable binder material.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the protective solution further comprises one or more conventional additives, agents or actives for food and foodstuff protection and/or preservation.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the one or more conventional additives, agents or actives include fillers, diluents, dyes, adjuvants, emulsifiers, dispersing agents, wetting agents, thickeners, thixotropic agents, and defoaming agents.