Process for ozone-based decontamination of shell eggs
AssigneeThe Ohio State University Research Foundation
InventorsAhmed E. Yousef, Luis A. Rodriguez-Romo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for reducing external and internal contamination of shell eggs by utilizing gaseous ozone applied under mild pressure, alone or in combination with UV radiation for external contaminants and gaseous ozone under mild pressure, a mix of carbon dioxide and ozone, heat, vacuum, or combinations thereof for internal contaminants.
Claims21
A process for treating shell eggs to reduce internal Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in the eggs, if any, comprising:
- (a) heating the shell eggs at a temperature of about 55 to 60° C. for about 1 to 60 minutes,
- (b) subjecting the eggs to a vacuum of about 5 to 29.9 inches Hg, and thereafter
- (c) maintaining the shell eggs in contact with a treating gas containing about 2-14 wt. % ozone at a pressure above atmospheric pressure for about 1 to 60 minutes.
A process for treating shell eggs to reduce internal contamination of the shell eggs with Salmonella Enteritidis, if any, comprising
- preheating the shell eggs to reduce the Salmonella Enteritidis contamination inside the shell eggs, if any, by at least about 1 log CFU/g, preheating being accomplished by heating the shell eggs at a temperature of about 55-60° C. for about 10 to 40 minutes,
- after termination of preheating, subjecting the shell eggs to a vacuum of about 5 to 30 inches Hg, and thereafter
- contacting the shell eggs with a treatment gas containing at least about 2 wt. % ozone for a time sufficient to reduce Salmonella Enteritidis contamination inside the shell eggs by an additional amount of at least about 0.8 log CFU/g.
A process for treating-shell eggs to reduce internal Salmonella Enteritidis contamination in the eggs, if any, comprising:
- (a) subjecting shell eggs previously heated to a temperature of about 55 to 60° C. for about 1to 60 minutes to a vacuum of about 5 to 29.9 inches Hg, and thereafter
- (e) maintaining the shell eggs in contact with a treating gas containing about 2-14 wt. % ozone at a pressure of about 5 to 29.9 inches Hg for a time long enough to reduce the internal Salmonella Enteritidis contamination of the shell eggs, if any, from an initial value before heating of about 6.5 to 7.9 log CFU/g to a final value at least about 4.2 log CFU/g less than the initial value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.