Patent ID: 6946155

Claim:
A method of treating edible matter or flower bulbs or tubers, comprising contacting said edible matter or flower bulbs or tubers with a hydrogen peroxide solution and adjusting carbon-dioxide-oxygen gas balance about said edible matter or flower bulbs or tubers, wherein said hydrogen peroxide solution contains metallic ions of silver and at least one of copper and zinc, said metallic ions being present in an amount of 10 ppb to 5%; and contains at least one of peracetic, nitric, sulfuric and phosphoric acid, and optionally at least one of salicylic acid, citric acid and phosphonic acid, and optionally glycerin; said solution is applied about said edible matter or flower bulbs or tubers in the form of a dry fog, fumes or smoke, wherein said solution comprises microdroplets having a particle size of 0.001 to 100 microns, and said edible matter or flower bulbs or tubers is maintained at a relative humidity of at least 70%, with the proviso that said edible matter or tuber are not potatoes.