# US 2014/0193553 A1 · Method for treating fruit or vegetables with phosphorous ions and corresponding compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0193553 A1 - Document ID: US20140193553A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/143,239 - Filed: 2013-12-30 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-07 - Assignees: Xeda International - Inventors: Alberto SARDO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193553A1 ## CPC - A23B 7/157: Inorganic compounds - A01N 31/08: Oxygen or sulfur directly attached to an aromatic ring system - A01N 31/16: with two or more oxygen or sulfur atoms directly attached to the same aromatic ring system - A01N 43/78: 1,3-Thiazoles; Hydrogenated 1,3-thiazoles - A01N 57/20: containing acyclic or cycloaliphatic radicals - A01N 59/26: Phosphorus; Compounds thereof - A23B 7/10: Preserving with acids; Acid fermentation - A23B 7/154: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A23B 7/155: Microorganisms; Enzymes {; Antibiotics} - A23B 7/158: Apparatus for preserving using liquids - B65B 25/041: {combined with their conservation} - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract The present application relates to a new method for treating fruits or vegetables comprising the use of hot phosphorous acid (PA) as well as PA-based combinations and corresponding kits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating fruit or vegetables against Penicillium comprising providing a treatment composition comprising phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite; heating the composition to a temperature of between 30° C. and 60° C.; and applying the composition to fruits and vegetables. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the fungicide is selected from eugenol, isoeugenol or a salt thereof, thiabendazole, ortho-phenylphenol, imazalil, or imazalil phosphite. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite, and the fungicide are applied simultaneously, separately or in a sequenced manner over time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment composition is at a temperature of between 40° and 60° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment composition is at a temperature of between 45° and 55° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fruit or vegetables are in contact with the treatment composition for between 10 seconds and 10 minutes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the concentrations of phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite in the treatment composition are between 200 ppm and 10,000 ppm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the concentrations of the phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite in the treatment composition are between 500 ppm and 5,000 ppm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the concentrations of the phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite in the treatment composition are between 2,000 and 4,000 ppm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment composition is applied in a proportion of 3,000 to 10,000 litres of treatment composition for every 100 to 300 tons of fruit and vegetables to be treated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment composition is applied to the fruit and vegetables whilst they are in crates/pallets or when they are out of crates/pallets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment composition is applied by spraying or immersion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 comprising the following steps: providing a bath containing the treatment composition at a temperature of between 30° and 60° C., placing the fruit or vegetables in a retention means, lowering the retention means so the fruit or vegetables are completely immersed in the bath, raising the retention means so the fruit or vegetables are completely removed from the bath, and, after the fruit or vegetables have been completely immersed and before they have been removed from the bath, comprising the following intermediate steps: raising the retention means so the fruit or vegetables contained therein emerge at least in part from the bath, and lowering the retention means so the fruit or vegetables contained therein are once again completely immersed in the bath. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the fruit or vegetables are completely immersed in the treatment composition for a total time of less than 10 minutes. ### Claim 16 A combination comprising: phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite; and a fungicide selected from the group consisting of eugenol, isoeugenol and salts thereof, thiabendazole and ortho-phenylphenol. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The combination according to claim 16, wherein the phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite, and the fungicide are applied simultaneously, separately or in a sequenced manner over time. ### Claim 18 A kit comprising: i) a system comprising: means for packaging fruit or vegetables in a retention means, means for forming a bath containing a treatment composition comprising phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite, means for lowering and raising the retention means, and a unit for controlling the lowering and raising means which is adapted, on the one hand for controlling the following steps: lowering the retention means so the fruit or vegetables contained therein are completely immersed in the bath, and raising the retention means so the fruit or vegetables are completely removed from the bath, and, on the other hand, for controlling, between these two steps, the following intermediate steps: raising the retention means so the fruit or vegetables contained therein emerge at least in part from the bath, and lowering the retention means so the fruit or vegetables contained therein are once again completely immersed in the bath; and ii) a treatment composition comprising phosphonic acid or potassium phosphite.