Nova Patents
EP1595457A2

Broad spectrum prevention and removal of microbial contamination of food by quaternary ammonium compounds

Abstract

A method of using quaternary ammonium compounds for inhibiting attachment of and removing a broad spectrum of foodborne microbial contamination from food products. The method uses quaternary ammonium compounds for inhibiting attachment of and removing microorganisms such as, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Listeria, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Salmonella, non-toxin-producing Escherichia, and pathogenic toxin-producing Escherichia such as O157:H7; fungi, such as Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum; and parasites, such as Entameba histolytica from a broad range of food. The foods that can be treated by this method are meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruit. One of the treatment methods is spraying quaternary ammonium compounds on the food products to prevent broad-spectrum foodborne microbial contamination. New formulations of quaternary ammonium compounds combined with glycerin and/or ethyl alcohol provides a concentrated formulation for industrial use and a diluted formulation for use in spraying methods.

EP1595457A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 12

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 14 April 2017, 9.4 years ago.

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18 claims: 10 independent, 8 dependent

  1. 1
    A method for preventing the growth of microorganisms on a food product comprising:contacting said food product with a microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of a quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds to prevent the growth of the microorganisms on the food product, wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):    wherein n is 9-21;and X is a halide,    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):    wherein n is 9-21;R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 and C 2 H 5 ;and X is a halide, and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt.
  2. 6
    The method of any one of claims 1-5 wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is cetylpyridinium chloride.
  3. 7
    The method of any one of claims 1-6 wherein said effective amount of quaternary ammonium compound ranges from approximately 50 to 20,000 parts per million.
  4. 8
    The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein said contacting said food product with said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds comprises immersing said food product in said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds.
  5. 9
    The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein said contacting said food product with said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds comprises spraying said food product with said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds.
  6. 10
    The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Listeria, Aeromonas, Bacillus, non-toxin producing Escherichia, and pathogenic toxin-producing Escherichia.
  7. 14
    The method of any one of claims 12-13 wherein said effective amount of quaternary ammonium compound ranges from approximately 500 to 20,000 parts per million.
  8. 15
    The method of any one of claims 12-14, wherein said contacting said poultry or meat tissue with said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds comprises immersing said poultry or meat tissue in said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds.
  9. 16
    The method of any one of claims 12-14, wherein said contacting said poultry or meat tissue with said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds comprises spraying said poultry or meat tissue with said microbial growth inhibiting effective amount of said quaternary ammonium compound for less than 90 seconds.
  10. 17
    The method of any one of claims 12-16, wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Listeria, Aeromonas, Bacillus, non-toxin producing Escherichia, and pathogenic toxin-producing Escherichia.
Independent claims10