Thomas S Ott

US Patent:

54894425, Feb 6, 1996

Filed:

Apr 18, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/228608

Inventors:

Joseph E. Dunn - Vista CA
Thomas M. Ott - Westwood NJ
Reginald W. Clark - Del Mar CA

Assignee:

Purepulse Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A23L 300
A61L 200

US Classification:

426248

Abstract:

A method for prolonging the shelf-life of perishable food products includes applying a fluid coating to a surface of the food product. The fluid coating adheres to the surface and forms a solid coating that covers the surface. The solid coating is preferably an edible coating and is at least partially transparent to light having a frequency within a prescribed frequency range, and the solid coating reduces the accessibility of the surface of the food product to microorganisms. Next, the solid coating is illuminated with light within the prescribed frequency range. At least a portion of the light passes through the solid coating and deactivates microorganisms at and near the surface of the food product thereby increasing the shelf-life of the food product. An apparatus for carrying out the above method has an application device that applies the fluid coating material to the surface; a light source that illuminates the solid coating with light; and a energizing device that energizes the light source.