Back to results
US 6,692,779 B2Granted
Food products with biocontrol preservation
AssigneeThe Pillsbury Company
InventorsDavid J. Dominques, John H. Hanlin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Food products can include dried microorganisms as a biocontrol agent. The dried cultures resist inactivation during pasteurization of the food product. The microorganisms are selected to be nontoxic and to inhibit growth of pathogenic microorganisms. For example, the biocontrol microorganisms can produce acid to lower the pH of the product thereby inhibiting the growth of pathogens.
Claims23
A method of preserving a food product comprising:
- (a) inoculating the food product with a quantity of dry, nontoxic microorganisms;
- then
- (b) pasteurizing the food product, while providing that at least a portion of the nontoxic microorganisms remain in a dry state during pasteurization;
- and then
- (c) storing said pasteurized food product at a temperature at or below 10° C.;
- wherein after pasteurization and storage the microorganisms remain effectively dormant up to temperatures of about 10° C., and wherein after pasteurization and storage if the food product reaches a temperature above 10° C., said microorganisms release acid by-products into said food product, wherein said acid by-products inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.