Short-term wash treatment of produce

Abstract

A produce wash system is provided. The produce wash system includes a produce line with a short-term wash device followed by a wash device, a short-term wash treatment that is applied by the short-term wash device to a product, wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the product reaches the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment from the product defining the end of the pretreatment time. The pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A produce wash system comprising:
 a produce line comprising a short-term wash device followed by a wash device;   a short-term wash treatment that is applied by the short-term wash device to a product, wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the product reaches the wash device; and   a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment from the product defining the end of the pretreatment time,   wherein the pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash treatment provides at least one or more from a group consisting of antimicrobial properties, potentiating properties for the antimicrobial action of the subsequent wash device and wash treatment, and controlling properties for controlling lachrymator release from the produce. 
     
     
         3 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the product is fresh produce that is at least one selected from a group consisting of whole, sliced, cut, and chopped leafy greens, including, but not limited to, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and kale, and vegetables, including, but not limited to, broccoli, onions, bell peppers, and squash.   
     
     
         4 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the product is a meat product that is at least one selected from a group consisting of beef, pork, lamb, veal, game, and poultry that includes, but is not limited to, whole, parted, and boned poultry.   
     
     
         5 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash device comprises:
 a spray device that is configured to spray the short-term wash treatment on the product.   
     
     
         6 . The produce wash system of  claim 5 , wherein the short-term wash device further comprises:
 at least one from a group consisting of a rotating drum short-term wash device, an air column short-term wash device, a slicer/dicer short-term wash device, a spray curtain, a shaker, and a timing belt,   wherein the spray device is integrated with at least one from the group to spray the short-term wash treatment on the product.   
     
     
         7 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash device comprises:
 a product submersing device that is configured to receive and submerse the product into the short-term wash treatment followed by the product being sifted out of the short-term wash treatment.   
     
     
         8 . The produce wash system of  claim 7 , wherein the product submersing device is at least one selected from a group consisting of a rotating drum short-term wash device, a submersing pool pretreatment device, an agitating pool pretreatment device, and a spray curtain with brushes. 
     
     
         9 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash treatment comprises an acidulant and a polyol. 
     
     
         10 . The produce wash system of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the acidulant is one selected from a group consisting of a phosphoric acid and lactic acid, and the acidulant is from 0.1% to 10% of the short-term wash treatment, and   wherein the polyol is one selected from a group consisting of a glycerin and a propylene glycol, and the polyol is from 0.1% to 10% of the short-term wash treatment.   
     
     
         11 . The produce wash system of  claim 10 , wherein the pretreatment time that the short-term wash treatment remains on the product is between 3 seconds and 1.5 minutes at a temperature between 30° F. and 50° F. 
     
     
         12 . The produce wash system of  claim 10 , wherein the wash treatment comprises:
 free active chlorine from 2 to 40 ppm of the wash treatment;   a compatible acidulant selected from a group consisting of phosphoric acid, citric acid, and lactic acid, and wherein the compatible acidulant is from 10 to 1000 ppm of the wash treatment; and   a polyol selected from a group consisting of a glycerin and a propylene glycol, and wherein the polyol is from 2 to 500 ppm of the wash treatment.   
     
     
         13 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash treatment comprises:
 a coordinating acid and silver ions,   wherein the coordinating acid is one selected from a group consisting of a citric acid and a lactic acid and is from 3% to 5% of the short-term wash treatment, and   wherein the silver ions are from 10 to 50 ppm of the short-term wash treatment.   
     
     
         14 . The produce wash system of  claim 13 , wherein the pretreatment time that the short-term wash treatment remains on the product is between 3 seconds and 1.5 minutes at a temperature between 30° F. and 50° F. 
     
     
         15 . The produce wash system of  claim 13 , wherein the wash treatment comprises:
 a compatible acidulant selected from a group consisting of phosphoric acid, citric acid, and lactic acid, wherein the compatible acidulant is from 10 to 1000 ppm of the wash treatment;   a polyol selected from a group consisting of glycerin and propylene glycol, wherein the polyol is from 1 to 500 ppm of the wash treatment;   free active chlorine from 2 to 40 ppm of the wash treatment; and   chloride from 1 to 100 ppm of the wash treatment.   
     
     
         16 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transfer belt between the short-term wash device and the wash device, wherein the transfer belt is configured to serve as a drain scroll to recycle the short-term wash treatment; and   a timing belt that is configured to help complete the pretreatment time.   
     
     
         17 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , wherein the short-term wash treatment and short-term wash device are configured to account for at least one of product overload, inadequate chlorine in a flotation tank, and incomplete pH control. 
     
     
         18 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the short-term wash treatment provides a supplemental wash lethality of greater than 1 log against microbes found on the product as compared to the lethality of the wash treatment in the wash system alone.   
     
     
         19 . The produce wash system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pre-rinse prior to the short-term wash treatment,   wherein the pre-rinse removes an initial organic load, soil, and debris, and   wherein the pre-rinse is the last use of wash water prior to disposal.   
     
     
         20 . A method of produce washing using a short-term wash device, the method comprising:
 processing a product through the short-term wash device followed by a wash device;   applying a short-term wash treatment using the short-term wash device to the product such that the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the product reaches the wash device; and   applying a wash treatment using the wash device to the product such that the wash treatment rinses the short-term wash treatment from the product defining the end of the pretreatment time,   wherein the pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.   
     
     
         21 . A short-term wash treatment comprising:
 an acidulant selected from a group consisting of a phosphoric acid and lactic acid, wherein the acidulant is from 0.1% to 10% of the short-term wash treatment; and   a polyol selected from a group consisting of a glycerin and a propylene glycol, wherein the polyol is from 0.1% to 10% of the short-term wash treatment,   wherein a pretreatment time the short-term wash treatment remains on the product is between 3 seconds and 1.5 minutes at a temperature between 30° F. and 50° F.