Microbial decontamination of food
OwnerPaul Bernard Newmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Food is rendered sterile by UV irradiation, preferably with UV at 265.+-.15 nm. A sterilization unit may include UV sources (90, 100, 110, 120) and a heat source, which may be a broad band UV source, a source of IR or microwave radiation. A combined microwave/UV unit can be used to defrost frozen food and simultaneously sterilize it or maintain sterility. Heating prior to UV irradiation can enhance the sterilization, as can rapid cooling after irradiation. Irradiation can also be enhanced by displacing the food during irradiation e.g. by supporting it on a rotatable support (135) and/or by displacing it relative to the support surface.
Claims18
A food treatment unit for the decontamination and treatment of food, comprising:
- a treatment chamber defining a treatment cavity and including a door whereby the cavity is enclosable;
- a food support located in said chamber cavity;
- a plurality of UV sources arranged for irradiating food supported on said food support in said chamber cavity said UV sources comprising at least one first source arranged to irradiate food located on said food support from above and at least one second source arranged to irradiate food located on said food support from below;
- and
- a heat source arranged to effect heating of food supported on said food support in said chamber cavity.
A method of treating food comprising:
- supporting the food on a food support in a treatment cavity of a treatment chamber;
- applying energy to the food to raise at least its surface temperature;
- and
- subsequently or simultaneously irradiating the food with UV energy from sources located above and below the food support.
A method of treating food comprising:
- supporting the food on a food support in a treatment cavity of a treatment chamber;
- irradiating the food with UV;
- and then cooling the food to reduce its surface temperature.
A food decontamination unit comprising a treatment chamber defining a treatment cavity and including a door whereby the cavity is enclosable;
- a food support located in said chamber cavity;
- at least one UV source arranged for irradiating food supported on said food support in said chamber cavity;
- and wherein said food support comprises a turntable and the unit further includes a motor coupled to said turntable to effect rotation thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.