# US 10,368,555 B2 · Reuse of activated chlorous agent for meat and poultry treatment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,368,555 B2 - Document ID: US10368555B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/839,870 - Filed: 2015-08-28 - Published: 2016-03-03 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-29 - Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc. - Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc. - Inventors: Michael R. Mullen; Scott D. Hageman; Scott A. Musgrave; Deborah Klein; Petra Vogt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368555B2 ## CPC - A23B 4/24: Inorganic compounds - A23B 4/12: Preserving with acids; Acid fermentation - A23B 7/10: Preserving with acids; Acid fermentation - A23B 7/157: Inorganic compounds - A23B 9/26: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A23B 9/30: Inorganic compounds - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - Y02A 40/90: in food processing or handling, e.g. food conservation - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract The invention provides methods, apparatuses and compositions for the reduction of pathogenic and/or non-pathogenic organisms in raw meat. The invention includes simultaneously manufacturing and applying to raw meat an activated chlorous agent or other biocidal composition. By simultaneously manufacturing and applying the solution feedstocks such as contaminated components or recirculated used solution that would normally not work, can be used to effectively reduce pathogens in raw meat. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reducing microbial populations on food, the method comprising: (A) feeding fresh water and an antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial agent precursor into a mixing device secured to a water stream for food processing, the mixing device comprising: (1) a first conduit comprising at least one inlet and outlet; (2) a second conduit comprising a first inlet and a second inlet and at least one outlet, wherein said first conduit secures to said second conduit and traverses the second conduit; and (3) a mixing chamber comprising an outlet, wherein the second conduit secures to the mixing chamber and wherein the outlets of the first and second conduits are in fluid communication with the mixing chamber; wherein the fresh water is introduced into the inlet of the first conduit of the mixing device and the antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial agent precursor is introduced into one or more inlets of the second conduit; (B) mixing the antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial agent precursor and fresh water in the mixing chamber of the mixing device to form an antimicrobial solution; and (C) introducing the antimicrobial solution into the water stream. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mixing device is connected to the water stream via an adaptor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water stream is part of a raw meat spray chamber or dip tank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water stream is a fruit or vegetable processing stream. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water stream is a non-meat processing stream. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water stream is an agricultural product or grain processing stream. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a used antimicrobial solution into the inlet of the first conduit along with the fresh water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the used antimicrobial solution has been collected from the water stream and filtered. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of peracid, acidified sodium chlorite, halogen compound, quaternary ammonium compound, organic acid, mineral acid, phosphoric acid, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial agent precursor is a peracid or peracid precursor selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, octanoic acid, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial agent or antimicrobial agent precursor is acidified sodium chlorite or acidified sodium chlorite precursor selected from the group consisting of metal chlorite, acid, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the fresh water is introduced into the inlet of the first conduit, the metal chlorite is introduced into the first inlet of the second conduit, and the acid is introduced into the second inlet of the second conduit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising forming an acidified sodium chlorite antimicrobial solution in the mixing chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the acidified sodium chlorite antimicrobial solution in the mixing chamber comprises from about 0.01% to about 0.1% of the metal chlorite. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the acid has a pKa from about 2.0 to about 4.4. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the acidified sodium chlorite antimicrobial solution in the mixing chamber has a pH from about 2.2 to about 4.5. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the acid is present in an amount sufficient to maintain a chlorite ion concentration in the form of chlorous acid of not more than 35 wt. % of the total chlorite ion concentration in the acidified sodium chlorite antimicrobial solution in the mixing chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the water stream is a poultry chiller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method uses a plurality of mixing devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for measuring the antimicrobial solution concentration or pH of the water stream and a controller in communication with the sensor for adjusting either the concentration of the antimicrobial solution or pH in the water stream. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mixing last from about 5 microseconds to about 500 milliseconds.