Patent ID: 7247330
Filing Date: 2007-07-24
Classification: A23B,A23L,B65B

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling contamination of a food product with a surface in a vacuum-sealed package, said method comprising placing the food product in a vacuum-sealable package, treating the food product while in the vacuum-sealable package with a combined treatment of (1) thermal surface treatment and (2) application of a solution of one or more antimicrobial agents to the surface of the food product, and then vacuum sealing the vacuum-sealable package to form the vacuum-sealed package such that the vacuum sealing uniformly disperses the solution over the surface of the food product, and wherein the combined treatment of the food product while in the vacuum-sealable package is effective for killing or inactivating essentially all pathogenic contamination in the vacuum-sealed food product.