by Playfuls Staff |
9th October 2006
U.S. scientists are developing two inexpensive methods to prevent future food-borne illness from pathogens such [more] as E. coli.
The Purdue University researchers say the two technologies rapidly detect and eradicate food-borne pathogens.
The first method uses a laser to detect and identify many types of bacteria, and is about three times faster and 1-10th as expensive as current technology.
"A second innovation uses chlorine dioxide gas to kill pathogens on produce, fresh fruits and vegetables," said food science Professor Richard Linton. "This would be a large step up from current technologies, which mainly involve washing and scrubbing, and cannot completely rid a product of a pathogen like E. coli.
"We can use the laser technology to detect problems more quickly, determine exactly what the pathogen is and where it came from," Linton said. "As for using this gas as a disinfectant, I would say that in my 13 years of doing research, it is 10,000 to 100,000 times more effective than any process I have seen."
The laser study appeared this summer in the Journal of Biomedical Optics.
© 2006 UPI
