Reduction of pathogens for food in packaging

Abstract

A system for reducing pathogens for food in packaging comprises a bagger and pathogen reducer. The bagger is for inserting a food item into a package. The pathogen reducer is for reducing pathogens by exposing the food item and the package with the food item inside using infrared energy.

1 . A system for reducing pathogens for food in packaging, comprising:
 a bagger for inserting a food item into a package; and   a pathogen reducer for reducing pathogens by exposing the food item and the package with the food item inside using infrared energy.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the food item. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the food item is preservative free. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a preheater for heating the food item prior to insertion into the package. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the preheater uses steam for heating the food item. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises a sealable bag. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein the sealable bag comprises a plastic bag. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein the sealable bag is sealed so as to not trap air within the seal. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises a gas permeable package. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen reducer reduces pathogens by sterilization. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen reducer reduces pathogens by pasteurization. 
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen reducer reduces pathogens to a predetermined acceptable level. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen reducer reduces pathogens to a predetermined acceptable level for food safety. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the pathogen reducer reduces pathogens by reducing pathogens in the package to zero pathogens. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the infrared energy comprises infrared energy with a characteristic spectrum, wherein the package is substantially transparent for the majority of the energy in the characteristic spectrum. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein the package is selected based at least in part on the characteristic spectrum of the infrared energy. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic spectrum of the infrared energy is selected based at least in part on the package. 
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a postheater for heating the package with the food item inside after exposing the package. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising a chiller for chilling the package with the food item inside after exposing the package. 
     
     
         20 . A method for reducing pathogens for food in packaging, comprising:
 is inserting a food item into a package; and   reducing pathogens by exposing the food item and the package with the food item inside using infrared energy.