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Technology Profile
Five Star Fresh Wash™ has been
specifically formulated as a viable
alternative to the use of chlorine for
the cleansing of fruit and vegetables.
Five Star Fresh Wash™ can also be used
in post-harvest applications to protect
produce from pathogenic damage during
storage and transport. It is well
established that pathogenic
microorganisms associated with whole or
fresh-cut produce can cause disease
outbreaks, thereby demonstrating the
need for improved mitigation efforts
associated risks. Safety concerns about
the production of chlorinated organic
compounds, such as trihalomethanes and
their impact on human and environmental
safety, have been raised in recent
years. Since chlorine reacts with
organic matter, components leaching from
tissues of cut produce surfaces may
neutralize some of the chlorine before
it reaches microbial cells thereby
reducing its effectiveness.
Additionally, crevices, cracks and small
fissures in produce, along with the
hydrophobic nature of the waxy cuticle
on the surface of many fruit and
vegetables, may prevent chlorine and
other sanitizers from reaching the
microorganisms. Spray treatment of
lettuce with 200 ppm chlorine was no
more effective at removing E. coli than
treatment with deionized water.
Application
For general decontamination of fresh
produce (fruit and vegetables), it can
be applied via dipping, spraying or
fogging at a concentration of 2% with
water.
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