# US 5,705,461 A · Cleaning methods and compositions for produce

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- Number: US 5,705,461 A
- Document ID: US5705461A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/556,777
- Filed: 1995-11-02
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-11-01
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Bruce Prentiss Murch; Brian Joseph Roselle; Kyle David Jones
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705461A

## CPC

- C11D 1/04: Carboxylic acids or salts thereof (soap C11D9/00)
- A23L 5/57: {Chemical peeling or cleaning of harvested fruits, vegetables or other foodstuffs (mechanical aspect A23N, A23P)}
- C11D 1/66: Non-ionic compounds {(C11D1/002, C11D1/004, C11D1/008 take precedence)}
- C11D 1/83: Mixtures of non-ionic with anionic compounds
- C11D 3/2086: {Hydroxy carboxylic acids-salts thereof}
- C11D 9/02: on alkali or ammonium soaps
- C11D 10/045: {based on non-ionic surface-active compounds and soap}
- C11D 17/041: {Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means}
- C11D 1/72: Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)

## Abstract

Acidic and basic cleaning compositions using toxicologically-acceptable ingredients for cleaning fruits and vegetables are provided. Clear liquid formulations comprising oleate, alcohol ethoxylates and buffers are sprayed onto apples, lettuce and the like to remove soil and unwanted deposits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition for cleaning fruits and vegetables at an acidic pH, comprising:
(a) from about 0.1% to about 7.5%, by weight of an ethoxylated alcohol surfactant;
(b) from about 0.01% to about 0.75%, by weight of oleic acid;
(c) from about 0.1% to about 7.5%, by weight of organic polycarboxylic acid;
(d) optionally, a toxicologically-acceptable acidic buffer;
(e) optionally, a toxicologically-acceptable preservative; and
(f) the balance comprising an aqueous carrier;
wherein said composition has a pH in the range of from about 2.5 to 5.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A composition according to claim 1 which comprises from about 0.5% to about 3.0% by weight of potassium hydrogen citrate as the acidic buffer (d) and wherein said composition has a pH of from about 3 to 5.