| 主权项 |
1. A method of preserving and/or delaying the onset of spoilage in freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains said method comprising wetting or coating the surface of the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains with a protective solution comprising either:
(A) I) a bioactive composition effective in killing and/or controlling or inhibiting the growth and proliferation of microorganisms responsible for the decay and spoilage of foods and foodstuffs at the level applied, II) water or an aqueous-based diluent, and III) 0.5 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution of a binder or other adhesive-type component for ensuring long term adherence of the bioactive composition to the surface of the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains selected from the group consisting of a wax, a soluble film-forming natural or synthetic resin, a film-forming poivmerizable resin, a film forming polymer, gum arabic, a latex, a natural phospholipid and a consumable binder material; wherein the bioactive composition comprises a) a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, valeric acid, itaconic acid, acetic, citriconic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, aldaric acid, proprionic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, salicylic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, and benzoic acid, b) at least one source of antimicrobial metal ions which source or sources are collectively capable of releasing metal ions selected from the group consisting of a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions, and c) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric surfactant; or (B) (A) I) a bioactive composition effective in killing and/or controlling or inhibiting the growth and proliferation of microorganisms responsible for the decay and spoilage of foods and foodstuffs at the level applied, II) water or an aqueous-based diluent, and III) optionally, 0.5 to 10 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution of a binder or other adhesive-type component for ensuring long term adherence of the bioactive composition to the surface of the freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains; wherein the bioactive composition comprises a) a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, valeric acid, itaconic acid, acetic, citriconic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, aldaric acid, proprionic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, salicylic acid, glutaric acid, tartaric acid, and benzoic acid, b) at least one source of antimicrobial metal ions which one or more sources are collectively capable or releasing a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions, and c) at least one anionic, non-ionic and/or amphoteric surfactant; wherein in both (A) and (B), i) the acid is present in at least a two times molar excess relative to the antimicrobial metal ions, ii) the pH of the acid/metal ion combination in purified water is from 1.5 to less than 6; iii) the concentration of the carboxylic acid is from about 0.01 to about 10 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution, iv) the concentration of the antimicrobial metal ions in the protective solution is from about 2 ppm to about 1000 ppm, and v) the concentration of the surfactant is from about 0.001 to about 3 weight percent based on the weight of the protective solution. |
