It sounds like something out of a comic (I am specifically thinking of gamma radiation and Bruce Banner), but new research has found that UV rays has the ability to kill certain pathogens found on some fruits. Specifically, it uses ultraviolet C light to kill off the germs.
This specific UV rays cannot penetrate opaque or solid objects. This means it can destroy the nucleic acid and disrupts the DNA of microorganisms. It’s been used for years to sanitise food contact surfaces, as well as drinking water.
Researchers from Washington State University tested the effect of UVC light on apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries and cantaloupe contaminated with E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes. The result differed with each different pathogen, the fruit’s surface, the dose of light and the length of exposure. But overall, the light was more effective against E. coli than against Listeria and more effective on the smoother surface.
Looking forward, this technique can be used to sanitise fruit on the packing line.
In retrospect, this is not the stuff of superheroes – it was the logical route for food safety to take! Can you utilise this new technology in your business? Have you considered using UV rays to protect your produce from food pathogens?
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