Compositions of food grade coatings to control pest infestations and methods of applications
AssigneesMississippi State University, Kansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsMark Wes Schilling, Yan Zhao, Yan Campbell, Thomas W. Phillips, Salehe Abbar, Barbara Amoah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention consists of novel compositions of food-grade coatings comprising mixtures containing propylene glycol as at least one active ingredient and containing at least one inert food-grade acceptable carrier for controlling food pests and pest infestations and reproduction on and/or in food. The invention further provides novel food containers and methods of applying coating compositions, including those of the invention, to foods and to food containers used to store, age, and/or cure the foods.
Claims24
A food-grade coating composition for controlling pest infestation and pest reproduction on or in food, or both, wherein the composition comprises mixtures containing 7.5% to 60% by weight or by volume of propylene glycol as at least one active ingredient and at least one inert food-grade acceptable carrier for the at least one active ingredient, wherein the composition is formed via controlled temperatures and the food-grade coating composition thickness increases as the percentage of the at least one active ingredient of the food-grade coating composition increases, the water vapor permeability of the food-grade coating composition increases as the food-grade coating composition thickness increases and ranges from about 1.1×10−7 gramsPa−1h−1m−1 to about 3.4×10−7 gramsPa−1h−1m−1, and the food-grade coating composition controls pest infestation for at least about eight weeks, and wherein the carrier is 1% to 2% by weight of xanthan gum and 46% to 99% by volume of water or, alternatively, 1% to 3% by weight of carrageenan, 0.5% to 2% by weight of propylene glycol alginate, and 46% to 99% by volume of water, and the food-grade coating composition is transparent.
A method for controlling pest infestation and pest reproduction on or in food, or both, the method comprising:
- applying a food-grade coating composition on or in the food, or both, for controlling food pests and pest infestations and reproduction on the food;
- controlling the temperature of the composition as the composition is applied to the food;
- and
- optionally infusing at least one food container for containing the food, with or without the composition applied on or in the food, for storing, processing, aging, curing, or a combination thereof, with a food-grade coating composition within or combined with the at least one food container and controlling the temperature of the composition and the speed, pressure, or both, of the infusion of the composition onto and/or into the at least one food container and sufficiently wrapping or covering the food with the at least one food container for controlling food pests and pest infestations and protecting the food therefrom for at least about eight weeks, wherein the food-grade coating composition comprises mixtures containing 7.5% to 60% by weight or by volume of propylene glycol as at least one active ingredient and at least one inert food-grade acceptable carrier for the at least one active ingredient, wherein the food-grade coating composition thickness increases as the percentage of the at least one active ingredient of the food-grade coating composition increases and the water vapor permeability of the food-grade coating composition increases as the food-grade coating composition thickness increases and ranges from about 1.1×10−7 gramsPa−1h−1m−1 to about 3.4×10−7 gramsPa−1h−1m−1, and wherein the carrier is 1% to 2% by weight of xanthan gum and 46% to 99% by volume of water or, alternatively, 1% to 3% by weight of carrageenan, 0.5% to 2% by weight of propylene glycol alginate, and 46% to 99% by volume of water, and the food-grade coating composition is transparent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.