Method for preparing and preserving sanitized products

Abstract

Described herein are methods of sanitizing and preserving produce and other agricultural products, for example for consumption as Ready-to-Eat. The methods can comprise treating the products with a sanitizing agent and forming a protective coating over the products.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating an agricultural product, comprising:
 applying a mixture to a surface of the agricultural product, wherein the mixture comprises one or more monoacylglycerides and a solvent, and the solvent comprises at least 30% of an alcohol by volume; and   at least partially removing the solvent from the surface of the agricultural product to yield a protective coating on the surface of the agricultural product, wherein the protective coating comprises the one or more monoacylglycerides.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the surface of the agricultural product comprises a cuticular layer of the agricultural product. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more monoacylglycerides comprise a compound of Formula I-B: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein:
 each R a  is independently —H or —C 1 -C 6  alkyl; 
 each R b  is independently —H, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, or —OH; 
 R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12  and R 13  are each independently, at each occurrence, —H, —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , halogen, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —C 3 -C 7  cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, wherein each alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl is optionally substituted with one or more —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , or halogen; 
 R 3 , R 4 , R 7  and R 8  are each independently, at each occurrence, —H, —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , halogen, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —C 3 -C 7  cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, wherein each alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl is optionally substituted with —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , or halogen; or 
 R 3  and R 4  can combine with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl, a C 4 -C 6  cycloalkenyl, or 3- to 6-membered ring heterocycle; and/or 
 R 7  and R 8  can combine with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl, a C 4 -C 6  cycloalkenyl, or 3- to 6-membered ring; 
 R 14  and R 15  are each independently, at each occurrence, —H, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl; 
 the symbol   represents an optionally single or cis or trans double bond; 
 n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8; 
 m is 0, 1, 2, or 3; 
 q is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; and 
 r is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. 
 
       
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the compound of Formula I-B comprises: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or any combination thereof. 
       
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more monoacylglycerides further comprise a compound of Formula I-A: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein:
 each R a  is independently —H or —C 1 -C 6  alkyl; 
 each R b  is independently —H, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, or —OH; 
 R 1 , R 2 , R 5 , R 6 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12  and R 13  are each independently, at each occurrence, —H, —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , halogen, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —C 3 -C 7  cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, wherein each alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl is optionally substituted with one or more —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , or halogen; 
 R 3 , R 4 , R 7  and R 8  are each independently, at each occurrence, —H, —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , halogen, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl, —C 3 —C 7  cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl, wherein each alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl is optionally substituted with —OR 14 , —NR 14 R 15 , —SR 14 , or halogen; or 
 R 3  and R 4  can combine with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl, a C 4 -C 6  cycloalkenyl, or 3- to 6-membered ring heterocycle; and/or 
 R 7  and R 8  can combine with the carbon atoms to which they are attached to form a C 3 -C 6  cycloalkyl, a C 4 -C 6  cycloalkenyl, or 3- to 6-membered ring; 
 R 14  and R 15  are each independently, at each occurrence, —H, —C 1 -C 6  alkyl, —C 2 -C 6  alkenyl, or —C 2 -C 6  alkynyl; 
 the symbol   represents an optionally single or cis or trans double bond; 
 n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8; 
 m is 0, 1, 2, or 3; 
 q is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; and 
 r is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. 
 
       
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the compound of Formula I-A comprises: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or any combination thereof. 
       
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mixture further comprises a fatty acid, and the protective coating further comprises the fatty acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the mixture further comprises an organic salt, and the protective coating further comprises the organic salt. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solvent comprises water. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol, methanol, isopropanol or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solvent comprises about 50% to about 90% of the alcohol by volume. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solvent comprises about 60% to about 90% of the alcohol by volume. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solvent comprises at least 30% of ethanol by volume. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the agricultural product comprises a fruit or a vegetable. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein applying the mixture to the surface of the agricultural product reduces bacteria levels on the surface of the agricultural product. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein applying the mixture comprises contacting the mixture and the surface of the agricultural product for at least about 10 seconds. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective coating prevents or mitigates damage to the agricultural product caused by the alcohol. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective coating replaces or reinforces portions of the agricultural product that are damaged by the alcohol. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective coating reduces a rate of water loss from the produce.