
Kevin KeenerÕs in-bag ozonation method creates ozone in packaged foods by using high-voltage coils to charge the gas inside sealed food packages, effectively killing any bacteria inside them. In this demonstration with a bag of tomatoes, helium has been added to a plastic bag because it glows, showing the ionization process. (Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Tom Campbell)
Exposing packaged liquids, fruits and vegetables to an electrical field for just minutes might eliminate all traces of foodborne pathogens on those foods, according to a Purdue University study.
Kevin Keener, a professor of food science, looks for new ways to kill harmful bacteria, such as E.coli and Salmonella, that contaminate foods and cause serious illnesses and deaths. His method uses electricity to generate a plasma, or ionized gas, from atmospheric gases inside the food package.
This process creates a wide variety of bacteria-killing molecules including ozone, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen peroxide and others. These molecules only exist for a few hours and then revert back to the original atmospheric gas, leaving a bacteria-free product.
In findings published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, Keener and researchers at the Dublin Institute of Technology demonstrated that sealed-package atmospheric plasma works well to kill bacteria in growth media. Their experiments showed that bacteria on these surfaces were eliminated with 20 seconds of treatment and 24 hours of exposure to the gases it creates. Keener said the cost of the process should be comparable to current chemical and heat treatments used to sanitize foods.
“Even in the most resistant bacteria-growing media, 45 seconds of treatment gave us complete elimination of the E. coli,” Keener said. “Under a microscope, we saw holes forming in the cell walls of the bacteria.”
Adapting the technology for liquids could allow development of portable devices to clean drinking water in areas with contamination or that lack other purification methods. It could also allow food processors to bottle juices without first heating them, a process widely used to kill bacteria that can alter products.
“This could be developed to allow you to achieve something similar to pasteurization without the heat and quality changes that occur with that process,” Keener said.
In Europe, especially, new methods are being sought as alternatives to washing foods in chlorine baths.
“Chlorine water works well on hard surfaces. But there can be issues if bacteria get inside organic matter on the produce, making chlorine ineffective,” Keener said.
Keener is working with researchers at Dublin Institute of Technology, National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology at Dublin City University in Ireland, and Innovació i Recerca Industrial i Sostenible (IRIS) in Spain to develop a precommercial system for larger-scale decontamination testing. After that, he would like to build a commercial system that could be used in food-processing plants.
Future research will also consider how the process affects food quality.
The Latest Bing News on:
Killing foodborne pathogens
- Don’t wash your chicken before cooking. Here’s whyon December 9, 2023 at 8:02 pm
Washing chicken actually makes the overall infection risk from the poultry significantly worse, as it may potentially cause the pathogens washed off the skin to spread throughout your kitchen ...
- Scientists Build a $70 Self-Powered Portable Light That Sanitizes Foodon December 6, 2023 at 5:55 am
Scientists have developed the Tribo-sanitizer, a device that uses light to enhance food sanitization, and it only costs about $70.
- What are the best ways to reduce foodborne pathogens in the supply chain?on November 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
One of the best ways to reduce foodborne pathogens in the supply chain is to implement good agricultural practices (GAPs) at the farm level. GAPs are guidelines that help farmers minimize the risk ...
- How can genetic testing be used to prevent foodborne illnesses?on November 20, 2023 at 4:00 pm
In the context of food safety, genetic testing can be used to detect and identify foodborne pathogens, as well as to track their sources and transmission. Genetic testing can provide fast and ...
- This Thanksgiving − and on any holiday − these steps will help prevent foodborne illnesson November 20, 2023 at 2:44 pm
Common pathogens that are attributed to foodborne illnesses are salmonella ... Poultry must be cooked to 165 F because this is the temperature that is required to kill salmonella instantly. Based on ...
- Non-alcoholic beers bring higher risk of E.coli and salmonella: Studyon November 3, 2023 at 1:44 pm
The researchers tracked the effects of acidity (pH), storage temperature, and alcohol concentration (specifically ethanol) on whether or not foodborne pathogens would reproduce or die off in the beer.
- One Day to One Hour: How Quickly Can Foodborne Pathogens Be Detected?on October 25, 2023 at 5:00 pm
Food- and water-borne pathogens are responsible for 1.8 million deaths annually. Annual economic losses in the USA have been estimated to be US$78 billion. Besides standard foodborne pathogens ...
- Dry-surface foodborne pathogens under scrutiny at Purdueon October 25, 2023 at 1:23 pm
At issue are the foodborne pathogens that can form or become embedded under low ... It will stop the growth of organisms, but it doesn’t kill them.” The researchers also will assess what genes C.
- Cryptosporidium as a Foodborne Pathogen (SpringerBriefs in Food, Health, and Nutrition) - Softcoveron October 20, 2023 at 12:26 am
Although widely recognized as an important waterborne pathogen, Cryptosporidium spp ... that mean that water is an excellent transmission vehicle are also important for foodborne transmission. These ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Killing foodborne pathogens
[google_news title=”” keyword=”killing foodborne pathogens” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
[/vc_column_text]
The Latest Bing News on:
Foodborne pathogens
- Salmonella-tainted cantaloupe is killing Canadians. How scientists track the outbreakon December 9, 2023 at 12:56 am
When an outbreak like this happens, food inspectors race to track down the culprit. In the case of the contaminated cantaloupe, they were able to trace the salmonella back to produce from a few ...
- Low- & non-alcoholic beer may be a breeding ground for food-borne bugson December 7, 2023 at 9:34 pm
A new study has found that compared to regular-strength beer, low- and non-alcoholic beers may be a breeding ground for food-borne pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, which can be introduced during ...
- WHO and World Bank plan update to foodborne illness cost estimateson December 6, 2023 at 8:00 pm
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for experts to contribute to work on the economic impact of foodborne diseases. WHO is in the process ...
- Nonalcoholic beer at higher risk for foodborne pathogens, says studyon December 6, 2023 at 12:58 pm
The lack of alcohol in nonalcoholic or low-alcohol beer—particularly during manufacturing, storage and pouring—may prompt conditions ripe for foodborne pathogen growth, according to a new Cornell ...
- The Most Dangerous Foods You Can Bring To A Holiday Potluckon December 4, 2023 at 6:45 am
Another concern when deciding on what dish to bring for a potluck is to consider food allergens and allergies people may have. “Allergies can cause anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening if ...
- Salmonella safety: What you should know this holiday seasonon December 1, 2023 at 2:04 am
strives to create a world with a safer food supply by developing and communicating scientific knowledge needed to prevent and control foodborne diseases caused by salmonella and other bacteria. CNN: ...
- Bacteriophages in the Fight Against Foodborne Pathogenson November 29, 2023 at 10:35 pm
Foodborne pathogens are a major global public health problem. As an example, only in the European Union, more than 200,000 cases of campylobacteriosis and more than 90,000 cases of salmonellosis are ...
- 5 Foods to Toss at the First Sign of Spoilage — and 5 You Can Still Useon November 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Learn how to reduce food waste without compromising safety. Discover which foods are safe to consume past their prime and which should be tossed. Tips from food safety experts.
- Dry-surface foodborne pathogens under scrutiny at Purdueon November 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm
At issue are the foodborne pathogens that can form or become embedded under low-moisture conditions. “We need to find practical solutions to controlling this organism in production environments that ...
- What are the best ways to reduce foodborne pathogens in the supply chain?on November 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
One of the best ways to reduce foodborne pathogens in the supply chain is to implement good agricultural practices (GAPs) at the farm level. GAPs are guidelines that help farmers minimize the risk ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Foodborne pathogens
[google_news title=”” keyword=”foodborne pathogens” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]