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The objective of the collaboration is to yield a commercially viable, patentable technology to treat select foods with natural, organic powdered antimicrobial treatments that possess acceptable sensory properties. <P>
The novel formulations should be effective against foodborne pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes. Ideally, the novel formulations would also be effective against spoilage organisms, including fungi.
APPROACH: The approach will include the thorough investigation which could result in proprietary and effective antimicrobial treatments. The treatment possibilities include: Powdered plant treatments. Possible freeze-dried plant powders to be tested include: fruit and vegetable extracts, pomaces, skins, proteins, herbs, seed extracts, powdered fruit and vegetable films, etc., and essential oils incorporated in powdered fruits and vegetables edible films. Possible spray-dried, and fluidized-bed dried microencapsulated powders include active antibacterial and antioxidant agents such as plant essential oils, oil compounds, flavonoids and other phenolic extracts enrobed in maltodextrin and other biopolymers.