SK58699A3 - Articles, methods for cleaning produce and edible animal protein - Google Patents

Abstract

Articles of manufacture, methods, and compositions using toxicologically-acceptable ingredients for cleaning produce and edible animal protein that include foam as an essential element are provided. Articles, methods and compositions are covered whereby a toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution is dispensed to the surface of produce and edible animal protein as a visible foam. The foam provides a positive visual signal as to the extent of cleaning/sanitizing and facilitates increased contact time between the food surface and cleaning solution.

Description

Cleaning products and methods of cleaning products and products containing edible animal proteins

Technical field

The invention relates to products and methods of cleaning and / or sanitizing products containing edible animal proteins, e.g. meat, seafood and poultry products, e.g.

Fruits and vegetables used as food for humans or animals and products for which it is particularly advantageous to use said methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Customers know well and take it seriously that fruits, vegetables and sources of edible animal proteins such as meat,

seafood and poultry must be thoroughly washed before consumption to remove dirt and other undesirable residues that are stuck to the surface of the product. In addition, some customers wish to remove artificial wax coatings that are applied to the surface of some fruits to retain moisture due to prolonged shelf life and to improve the appearance of the fruit. It is estimated that 95% of customers recognize the need to wash the product properly, but normally only using tap water. About 5% of vegetable washing consumers use household cleaners, most often liquid dishwashing detergents, to achieve perfect cleaning. However, dishwashing compositions are not intended for this use, as they are generally designed to produce a dense, durable foam that is poorly removed from the fruits or vegetables that have been washed with them. The formulation of truly effective compositions, especially those which individual consumers can safely use, intended to wash products containing edible animal proteins and products made from them, presents a unique problem for the inventor that many of the developed cleaning components known in the art would probably not be appropriate for use in direct contact with food, where it would be difficult to remove them.

In addition, it would be particularly desirable to provide methods and products that include effective and toxicologically acceptable detergent compositions for products and articles containing edible animal proteins in the form of solutions that are clear or minimally opalescent and that are readily rinsed from the surface of the food. Liquid solutions are convenient for the user since they can be applied directly to dirty products and products containing edible animal proteins and then rinsed with tap water. Clear fluids imply purity for the user and are therefore highly desirable. However, the use of clear food cleaning solutions raises the problem of determining proper or corresponding coatings on the food surface. The same properties that imply purity, i. clear liquids do not give positive visual signals where the cleaning solution has been used and where it is not. Furthermore, the nature of the cleaning solutions, which are typically low viscosity mobile solutions, results in rapid drainage of the cleaning solution, making it difficult to provide prolonged periods when the solution is in contact with the wash surface often required for proper cleaning.

It has now been found that methods using a foaming cleaning solution solve the above problems. It has been found that preferred methods that use foam to wash products can use cleaning solutions within the alkaline pH range, while still retaining the ability to induce a desirable feeling of cleanliness for the user who perceives it through their hands.

The use and selection of cleaning ingredients for washing fruits and vegetables are described in the United States Code of Federal Regulations, Section 21, Section 173.315: Components Applicable for Washing or Peeling by Liquor Fruit and Vegetable Liquor Solution vegetables). This Regulation restricts components to those that may be used in direct contact with food and which are described as generally considered as safe (GRAS) and to several other selected ingredients. These sections also set limits on the amount of material that can be used in this context.

One skilled in the art of formulation of such compositions will find among these components only a few ingredients that are effective in cleaning off hydrophobic residues such as waxes, oils or xenobic chemical residues, e.g. pesticides. It is generally recognized that these types of residues are most readily removed in the aqueous environment by surfactants or in a virtually anhydrous environment by organic solvents. Other types of impurities, especially particulate insoluble impurities that are difficult to disperse in water, are effectively removed by surfactants in water, especially when simultaneously acting with complex anionic salts, for example citrates (polycarboxylates) or polyphosphate salts.

Within this limited group of substances, a subset of effective cleaners that are suitable for the cleaning of fruit and vegetables has not yet been described, especially if such cleaning is carried out by an individual consumer. It is therefore necessary to provide liquid compositions which can be directly applied to products containing edible animal proteins and products made therefrom, preferably by spray application. Furthermore, the compositions need to be easily rinsed without leaving any residue.

Preferred compositions should protect the skin of the hands, especially in the case of direct application.

Food Chemical News, Inc., 1991, p. 334.1 announces that:

PEG 200-9500 has successfully passed selection according to §177.3750 as an ingredient in food contact products (Fed. Register, September 15, 1968). However, for use as a detergent, polyethylene glycol should be confirmed as GRAS.

A detailed review of the polysaccharides and their derivatives can be found in Whistler, R. L. Industrial Gums, Academic Press (New York, 1959).

Compositions useful for the methods and articles described herein can be found in U.S. Pat. 5,498,295; 5,500,048; 5,500 143; 5,503,764 and 5,549,758, incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses compositions, methods, and articles for cleaning and / or sanitizing articles containing edible animal proteins, e.g. meat, seafood and poultry, and products, e.g. fruit and vegetables intended for human or lower animal feeding. The invention includes:

I. an article of manufacture comprising a spray container suitable for use by an individual consumer for cleaning products and articles containing edible animal proteins, which comprises a toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution, and said cleaning solution may be applied from said container to form an appropriate amount of foam;

II. a method for cleaning products and articles containing edible animal proteins, wherein the toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution is applied in the form of visible foam to the surface of said product and articles containing edible animal proteins; and

III. toxicologically acceptable compositions comprising a cleaning solution comprising components useful for cleaning / sanitizing products and products containing edible animal proteins, said compositions further comprising a foam generating component and said composition thus being able to be applied in the form of visible foam.

An important foaming component according to the invention serves several purposes. It gives the consumer a positive visual signal that a cleaning solution is present. The foam also prevents the detergent from flowing rapidly from the surface to be cleaned. The ability of the foam to retain the cleaning solution on the surface of the food product is particularly important if the residence time of the cleaning solution on the surface of the food product is a critical factor in the cleaning and / or sanitizing function of the solution. Preferably, the article is capable of producing a foam after application that remains visible for at least 3 seconds, more preferably 1 minute.

The desired foam effect can be achieved either by mechanical means, i. by means of a spray head that generates a foam, or a precise formulation, i. adding components to the cleaning solution to facilitate foaming when applied. Choosing the ingredients needed to form a foam for reasons of general difficulty in application is critical. Traditional foaming agents, e.g. detergent surfactants are not suitable in the context of the methods used to clean the surface of foods by rinsing the foaming detergent and these detergents into compositions so that they are acceptable even if swallowed by the consumer.

Suitable cleaning solution formulations that facilitate foaming upon application preferably include the use of non-detergent foam enhancing components. The term foam-enhancing component is defined as a component added to a formulation that either increases the volume of foam that can be obtained from a given amount of solution, or extends the duration of the foam after application to the surface of the food product. The non-detergent foam enhancing components are preferably selected from polymeric materials having >

thickening effect while reducing viscosity under shear-thinning thickeners. More preferably, they are selected from the group consisting of substituted cellulose, modified polysaccharides and natural gums, more preferably xanthan gums can be used.

Specifically, the invention provides a method of cleaning products comprising contacting the surface of said products with an applied, toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution in the form of a visible foam, preferably a foam that remains visible for at least 3 seconds, preferably at least 1 minute, and typically comprises:

(a) 0.01-15% of C ₈ -C ₁₈ fatty acids;

(b) preferably 0.1 to 4% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, in particular ethoxylated / propoxylated adducts of C 12 -C 18 aliphatic alcohols;

(c) preferably 0.1 to 4% by weight of organic polycarboxylic acids, preferably citric acid;

(d) preferably up to 0.2% by weight of an acidic stable anionic surfactant such as, for example, the dodecylbenzenesulfonate hydroxide or earth alkali salts;

(e) preferably a toxicologically acceptable basic buffer, for example potassium and / or sodium salts of carbonate and / or bicarbonate;

(f) preferably a toxicologically acceptable preservative;

(g) preferably at least 0.05% by weight of a water-soluble polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 or greater;

(h) preferably a toxicologically acceptable acidic buffer other than said polycarboxylic acid and / or said fatty acid capable of maintaining the desired pH, preferably 0.05 to 10% phosphoric acid;

(i) an aqueous carrier residue selected from water and, preferably, a low molecular weight, toxicologically acceptable organic solvent such as ethanol, glycerol, and the like;

wherein said aqueous solution has a pH of 8 or higher, preferably 9.5 to 12.5, and preferably contains calcium carbonate buffer (e) to have a pH of 11, wherein said composition preferably does not contain any material that would be toxicologically unacceptable. The invention also encompasses articles having a spray container suitable for use by an individual consumer in order to clean products and articles containing edible animal proteins and allows the application of this cleaning solution as a clearly visible foam.

The present invention also encompasses compositions comprising the aforementioned components (a) to (i), further comprising a foaming component, preferably a polymeric substance having a thickening effect and at the same time reducing viscosity under shear-thinning thickener conditions, more preferably selected from the group of substances comprising substituted celluloses, modified polysaccharides and naturally occurring gums, and most preferably xanthan gum. Said composition may be applied in the form of a visible foam, preferably a foam which remains visible for at least 3 seconds, more preferably at least 1 minute.

The inventions may also include a more specific method of purifying products and articles containing edible animal proteins at an alkaline pH in the range of 8.0 to 12.5, more preferably at a pH greater than 9.5, comprising contacting the surface of said product and / or articles containing edible animal proteins. proteins with a toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution foam, preferably an aqueous cleaning solution containing potassium oleate, preferably at a concentration greater than 0.5%. Potassium oleate is mild, rinses well, its odor is minimal, effectively removes unwanted material from apples, especially wax, does not form too many soaps and is very safe, even if the product is improperly used, and a product or product containing edible animal proteins, etc. . not thoroughly rinsed. Therefore, it is an absolutely preferred surfactant that is useful for cleaning food products. Potassium cation is much more suitable than sodium cation because potassium oleate is relatively soluble, while sodium oleate tends to form less soluble soaps, especially at lower temperatures.

Another preferred concentrated alkaline process for cleaning products and articles containing edible animal proteins comprises contacting the surface of the product or articles containing edible animal proteins with a foam of a cleaning solution comprising 0.5 to 15%, preferably 0.75 to 8%, more preferably 1 to 5% a detergent surfactant, preferably one belonging to the GRAS family, and more preferably said oleate surfactant, wherein said cleaning solution has a pH of 8 to 12.5, preferably 9.5 to 12.3, especially when the detergent surfactant is a soap such as said oleate, and even more preferably the pH is 11 to 80 ° C

12. Such compositions, when used in effective amounts for cleaning wax-coated apples, will effectively remove the wax. Since the removal of wax from the surface of the apples is one of the most difficult cleaning tasks, this indicates an overall high efficiency of the cleaning process.

Another preferred variant of the aforementioned method of purifying products and products containing edible animal proteins comprises placing said cleaning solutions in a spray container that allows foaming from said solution associated with applying said solution or solutions to the surface of the product using a minimum amount of cleaning solution and minimal exposure increasing the contact with the atmosphere, where the solution is more likely to be contaminated and / or exposed to oxygen, both of which can cause undesirable changes in the solutions in terms of aesthetic and / or efficiency. When applying these sprays, there is only a need for a relatively small amount of material in the package, which is desirable for use by an individual consumer because some consumers are unable to handle large weights. For consumer use, the container should typically not contain more than 4 liters (2 gallons) of solution, especially if the container is a spray container, even if it is a device that has a tube that allows the spray device to be handled even if the main container remains in place. Such spray containers preferably contain 1 liter or less of cleaning solution.

The preferred compositions used in the methods and articles described herein contain only materials that are referred to as GRAS to protect against possible misuse by consumers. Traditionally, most of the proposals concerning the cleaning of fruits and / or vegetables have considered trade relations where there is typically greater control, especially as regards the quantity and thoroughness of the rinsing. The present invention, in particular methods involving the use of hand-held trigger actuated spray devices, is primarily / exclusively suitable for use by individual users, so it is important that the product includes an additional safety device. Insufficient rinsing after cleaning is less important if all the ingredients used are GRAS-like. This is especially important if we use suitable t to remove wax from the surface of the apples

concentrated basic compositions. The greater amount of material required to remove wax creates a hitherto unknown level of risk for individual consumers, many of whom are unlikely to read or follow instructions that would otherwise allow the safe use of non-GRAS materials.

The components of the above compositions are preferably selected and used in proportions that provide substantially clear compositions. Substantially clear means that the opalescence is minimal and the compositions are preferably completely clear. The ingredients shall also be selected so as to at least smell both initially and after storage. The absence of odor is particularly important for food cleaning products. The compositions preferably have a viscosity of greater than 10 centipoise (0.1 dyn / cm ² ), more preferably greater than 50 centipoise (0.5 dyn / cm ² ) when they are at rest, but with a tangential strain their viscosity decreases and is therefore easy to apply. from the spray canister.

At pH below 9.7, the compositions may exhibit an inappropriate fatty acid odor. Even at an optimum pH above 11, some odor may persist. In order to mask this odor, the compositions may contain a fragrance or essence component. Citrus fruits terpenes, such as oranges, lemons, sweet lemon, grapefruits, tangerines, tangerines and the like are particularly suitable for this purpose.

All cited documents are incorporated herein by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following ingredients and toxicologically acceptable components are used in the preparation of the compositions used in the preferred methods and in the handling of the products described herein and which are preferred. Toxicologically acceptable means that any residues of the components of the compositions that remain on the fruits or vegetables cleansed by these compositions are safe from swallowing by humans or animals. The term edible animal proteins includes foods that contain proteins found in food sources including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish and venison, e.g. roe and deer meat, rabbit meat, etc., but the food resources in this context are not limited by this enumeration. Said products containing edible animal proteins also include, but are not limited to, processed forms of said protein sources, such as minced beef, minced turkey meat, bolognese salami, hot dogs, sausages, fish patties and the like.

Spray container - said components are preferably used when filled into a container that includes either an aerosol container or a non-aerosol spray device. Said spray means is any of the manually activated means, preferably with a manually operated trigger, which produces a liquid droplet spray as is known in the art. Typical spray compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,223, Nozawa, issued April 4, 1978; 4,161,288, Mc Kinney, issued June 17, 1979; No. 4,558,821, Tada et al., Issued Dec. 17, 1985; No. 4,434,917 to Saito et al

On March 6, 1984 and 4,819,835, Tasaki, issued April 11, 1989, all of said patents being incorporated herein by reference. The spray bottle or container may be of any type commonly used for detergent compositions used to clean solid surfaces. Examples of vials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 244,991, Weekman et al., Issued June 12, 1977, and 275,078, Wassergord et al., Issued August 14, 1984, said patents being incorporated herein by reference.

Spray compositions herein also include compositions that contain a propellant or which also foams compositions with a viscosity of less than about 15 centipoise (0.15 dynes / cm ² ). The spray compositions herein are typically those that act on a certain amount of the composition itself, typically by means of a valve that displaces the composition and expels it through the orifice to form a foam from the thin fluid. The spray means may also be provided with a spray head generating a foam, for example as described in U.S. Pat. 4,350,298; Nos. 4,730,775 and 4,890,792, all of said patents being incorporated herein by reference. An example of an acceptable, commercially available foam generating spray head is the TS-800 model equipped with a foaming outlet, manufactured by Calmar, Inc.

Polymeric thickener thinning thickener - the polymeric thickener whose viscosity decreases under tangential stress conditions can be any thickener thickener whose viscosity decreases under tangential stress conditions which is known in the art and used to thicken liquid compositions, especially aqueous compositions. Thus, substituted cellulose materials, e.g. carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose and the like. and naturally occurring thickeners, e.g. carraggeenan and xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,006, Bolich, issued Nov. 29, 1986, from column 5, line 55 to column 6, line 2; said patent being incorporated herein by reference.

The preferred toxicologically acceptable cleaning compositions described herein may be thickened by adding a thickener, preferably in a fully hydrated form, at a concentration of 0.001 to 1%, preferably at a concentration of 0.005 to 0.5%, more preferably at a concentration of 0.01 to 0, 3% to increase the viscosity of the composition having less than 15 cp (0.15 dyn / cm ² ) to a value of 15 to 250 cp (0.15 to 2.5 dyn / cm ² ), more preferably 15 to 100 cp (0.15 to 1 dyne / cm ² ). If the viscosity is too low, the foam is not visible and even at slightly higher viscosity values, the area covered by the foam will begin to decrease substantially and the foam is more difficult to rinse off the surface of the food product.

Viscosity is determined using a Brookfield Synchroelectric Viscometer, Model LVT, manufactured by Brookfield Engineering Laboratory, Inc. in Stoughtone Massachussetts, using spindle no. 1 at 60 rpm, at 20 ° C. (Constant shear speed is 13 inverse seconds).

Viscosity-reducing characteristics under tangential stress conditions, such as polymers and / or compositions, are determined using a Carrimed Controlled Stress Rheometer, Model CSL 100, manufactured by Carrimed Ltd., Artist House, Curtis Road Estate, Dorking, Surry RH4 1DP, United Kingdom. The rheometer uses the geometry of double j concentric cylinders to perform constant shear measurements at different shear rates. These measurements are made at 26 ° C. Viscosity reduction under tangential stress conditions, the pseudoplastic behavior of the xanthan gum system is mathematically expressed by the equation:

N = KR ^n_1

J where N is the apparent viscosity, K is the consistency constant, R is the shear rate and n is the shear index. For best spray performance (application), Kan values should provide viscosity * values greater than 15 cp (0.15 dyn / cm ² ) at spray shear rates (< 10,000 inverse seconds, as reported in the commercial literature).

Behavior characterized by viscosity reduction under tangential stress conditions is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,283, Stoddart, issued Nov. 8, 1988, in particular the portion in column 2, line 46 et seq.

Weionic surfactant - nonionic surfactant is preferably selected from materials well known to those skilled in the art, such as adducts of alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) with C 10-18 aliphatic alcohols or acids, and glucose adducts with C 10-18 aliphatic alcohols (alkylpolyglucoside). The selected specific nonionic surfactant has a hydrophilic-lipophilic equilibrium (HLB) ideally greater than 10 and a cloud point in the formulation above 35 ^e C. The US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) specifically discloses an adduct of C12-18 aliphatic alcohol 800 MW with ethylene oxide / propxlénoxidom. This material is available as PLURAFAC RA-20 (BASF).

It should be highly appreciated that in the acidic compositions herein the alkoxylated alcohol functions as a cleaning agent, but in the alkaline compositions the alkoxylated alcohol functions mainly as a dispersing component for any soap precipitate that may be formed during the cleaning operation. It is further recognized that the selection of non-nitrogen-containing nonionic substances can minimize the possibility of microbial growth in dilute surfactant compositions.

Fatty acid and / or salts thereof - acidic compositions are formulated herein using an unsaturated fatty acid; Oleic acid is preferred because it is suitable for this purpose. However, the selected oleic acid should preferably have a low content of polyunsaturated compounds, for example containing less than 10%, preferably less than 7% and more preferably less than 5%, and should have an iodine number (IV) of 70 to 100, preferably 83 to 95, more preferably 85 to 90. The presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids is not suitable due to odor problems. However, this is primarily an aesthetic aspect, since these acids are effective in terms of purification. The amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids should be less than 8%, preferably 0%. The amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids with more than two double bonds should be less than 1%, preferably 0%. Saturated fatty acids are unacceptable because they have limited solubility for longer chain materials (<Ci ₂ ) or unacceptable odor (<Cn). For example, fatty acid soaps from stearin and / or tallow, even potassium soaps, do not have sufficient solubility at room temperature at which individual consumers clean most products so that the compositions containing at least 0.1% of the soap required for acceptable cleaning can also be formulated. . Other specific solubilizing surfactants at a higher ratio would be required to solubilize these saturated fatty acids. Pamolyn 100 FGK oleic acid is a good example of a suitable commercial fatty acid.

The polyethylene glycol - a water-soluble polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer used herein is a known commercial product and is available under many trade names. A known example is CARBOWAX (Union Carbide Corporation). According to the present invention, preferably PEG polymers having an average molecular weight of from 200 to 20,000, and PEG such as CARBOWAX over a range of average molecular weights of at least 400, typically 400 to 9,500, may be used. 5 wt% PEG and typically contain 0.1 to 10 wt% PEG. The amounts used may vary by molecular

The weight of PEG, based on the amount of oleate or other fatty acid used in the composition, on the desired viscosity of the composition, and on similar factors, based on the discretion of the formulator. The following Table 1 shows the viscosity variations induced using different amounts of PEG and different molecular weights of PEG used in a liquid composition (control) containing 3% potassium oleate. Table 1 also shows the effect of sodium benzoate (Bz) on viscosity.

Table 1

means Viscosity (cP * as prepared) 72 ° F (22 ^e C) viscosity (cP * as prepared) 41 ° F (7 ° C) Control (no PEG) 7 110 Control + 0.674% Bz 23 1 000 Control + 0.118% Bz 7 159 Control + 0.1% PEG400 5 36 Control + 0.5% PEG400 2 17 Control + 0.1% PEG800 5 23 Control + 0.5% PEG800 8 4

* Centipoise viscosity measured by Brookfield LVTD, spindle 2, 60 rpm at the indicated temperature.

F

In a typical method, the preferred compositions herein which exhibit an improved tactile impression comprise an oleate / PEG weight ratio of 1: 2 to 15: 1, preferably 1: 1 to 10: 1.

Tactile impression - The compositions herein, which contain polyethylene glycol, are characterized not only by their excellent cleaning performance and good rinsing of the foam formed, but also by their improved viscosity and tactile feel. While, as mentioned above, the improved viscosity of the compositions herein is readily demonstrated quantitatively by standard measurement techniques, the improved tactile impression of the compositions when they come into contact with the hands of the user is a qualitative tactile impression. However, this improved non-slippery and non-soap sensation on the skin can be demonstrated by applying test (containing PEG) and control (non-PEG) formulations to the hands and inner forearms of volunteers and then soaking ”with these formulations. Even in such basic tests, volunteers can easily distinguish the improved tactile impression of the compositions made according to the invention.

Preferred surfactants - preferably acidic or basic stable anionic surfactants may be used, as permitted by US Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, paragraph 173.315. Preferred are the salts of dodecylbenzenesulfonate, typically used in concentrations up to 0.2%. Also described in the CFR are phosphate esters of aliphatic alcohol adducts with ethylene and / or ethylene oxide / propylene oxide, dioctylsulfosuccinate or 2-ethylhexylsulfate. Typically, however, these materials suffer from lack of stability under acidic or alkaline conditions.

Sequestrant / builder - an organic polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, e.g. citric acid is used as a sequestering component in acidic compositions herein, while sodium and / or potassium citrate is used in the alkaline compositions of this patent application, and these are a standard commercial item. Other organic polycarboxylic acids f

acids, especially those having the character of GRAS, for example tartaric acid, malic acid, etc., can also be used. When formulating the basic compositions herein, it is preferable to use a potassium salt, which is preferred over the sodium salt for ease of formulation. Complex phosphates can also be used, but are generally avoided for regulatory reasons.

Buffer - Toxicologically acceptable acidic or basic buffers may be used in the compositions of this patent application to maintain the pH of the product in the acidic or alkaline range. For ease of formulation, it is preferred that these acidic or alkaline buffers be in the form of a potassium salt. Citric acid is the preferred buffer for the acidic pH range. In alkaline systems, potassium citrate is a suitable particulate dispersant. Potassium carbonate is a suitable and preferably used buffer for the alkaline pH range. Sodium bicarbonate is a highly desirable substance that is added to the compositions of the present invention as part of a buffer system, since it is readily available as food grade soda, its use is not expensive, and yet provides a highly desired purity to the composition. Compositions comprising a mixture of potassium and sodium cations in a potassium / sodium molar ratio of from 1: 1 to 10: 1, preferably from 2: 1 to 8: 1, more preferably from 4: 1 to 5: 1, for example when using KOH (hydrate) and Na ₂ CO ₃ , have the desired rheological properties. The compositions are dense so that they adhere to the surface of fruits or vegetables until they spread over the surface. But on the other hand, they are easily applied to the entire surface, for example by means of an aerosol spray device or by means of a spray equipped with a finger-activated pump. Concentrations and types of components are adjusted to result in products having the desired viscosity as disclosed in the patent application, for example more than 5 (0.05 dyn / cm ² ), preferably more than 10 (0.1 dyn / cm) ² ), more preferably more than 50 centipoise (0.5 dynes / cm ² ) when at rest and less than 150 (1.5 dynes / cm ² ), · preferably less than 100 (1 dynes / cm ² ), and more preferably less than 50 centipoise (0.5 dynes / cm ² ) when under the influence of tangential forces (shear)

1000 sec ^first

The ability of preferred formulations containing mixtures of sodium and potassium cations to induce a decrease in viscosity under tangential stress conditions is important to promote ease of application, especially when the formulations are sprayed to maintain the necessary density, adhesion and proper time in contact with the product. to which they are applied.

Preferably, the pH should not exceed 12.5, and for consumer safety, the composition should not contain a large amount of buffer at higher pH, especially when the compositions are applied in the form of a spray.

Preservatives - standard food preservatives such as potassium sorbate / sorbic acid and / or sodium benzoate / benzoic acid or mixtures thereof are suitable for this purpose. For example, 0.01 to 0.2% of benzoic acid or its sodium or potassium salt may be used. In general, the basic pH formulations included in the present invention do not require the addition of a preservative, although the formulation may be added if desired.

Antioxidants - The use of commercial oleic acid or oleate salts can be complicated by the development of emitted odors and / or the yellowing of the compositions to which they are added. These undesirable properties are probably due primarily to complex side reactions initiated by the reaction of oxygen with the unsaturated fatty acid components present. This can be avoided or minimized by avoiding contact with air or by controlling the quality of the fatty acids present so that the amount and type of polyunsaturated components is minimized as described above and / or by the addition of antioxidants .

The addition of tocopherols (e.g. vitamin E or tocopherol acetates) to alkaline compositions has been found to be advantageous as these substances do not degrade and do not cause a significant coloration of the product. They have long inhibited the development of odors, so the need to mask these odors is minimal or non-existent, especially for a material containing high quality oleic acid, as described above. The use of butyl phenols, such as BHT and BHA, is also advantageous, but their effectiveness is more limited, and these substances can color the product with a stronger color shade. Other food antioxidants, such as vitamin C and sulfites, are desirable for their ability to prevent damage to the composition by reaction with oxygen. However, caution should be exercised as vitamin C may be subject to color degradation and sulfites may cause odor problems. There are also concerns about the possible negative effects of sulfites on human health.

Liquid Carrier - The major part (typically 90 to 98% by weight) of the compositions disclosed in this patent application is water which acts on the substances contained in the composition as a solubilizing carrier. As shown in the following examples, a water-ethanol mixture, which is preferred for alkaline pH formulations, may also be used. Preferably, the concentration of ethanol should not exceed 2% in the solution used to purify the product so that ethanol cannot be smelled from the composition, especially when sprayed. Other compatible, water-soluble, low molecular weight solvents such as glycerol may also be used.

Preferred products include the compositions herein which are suitable for use in the manner described herein in a package that provides the product in the form of a foam. Such devices are not on the market in large quantities. This is surprising since such products have clearly more advantageous properties for use by consumers. Typical uses include cleaning of individual products or products containing edible animal proteins, and the preparation of a washing bath would be uneconomical for this purpose.

In a preferred method of using the products described herein, and in particular those designed to be used concentrated, the product is sprayed onto the food product to be cleaned, followed by cleaning the product by wiping, rinsing and / or wiping with a suitable material. such as fabric, sponge, paper towel and the like. The compositions and methods described herein, in particular alkaline compositions, can have a considerable disinfectant effect.

The compositions and methods described herein may also provide effective disinfection and sanitizing effect. High concentrations and / or longer exposure times should be used to kill micro-organisms, especially bacteria, effectively. Typically, the products should be used in full concentration and the user should be allowed to remain in contact with the product containing edible animal proteins or other purified product for at least one minute, preferably at least five minutes, and for some microorganisms even 10 minutes should be observed. Longer exposure times (i.e., the time the bacteria are in contact with the product) have a higher antimicrobial effect. The length of time depends on both the pH of the product and the concentration of the composition. At high pH (pH 11 11.5) and high concentrations, the antibacterial effect is rapidly achieved. At lower pH values (pH <11) and lower concentration of the composition, longer exposure times are required to achieve the same efficacy.

Also in general, higher pH values are better. This factor is important for the efficacy of the composition on Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and species

Pseudomonas. The higher pH of the product results in a faster and more effective killing effect. The opposite is true for Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. The efficiency is similar or slightly better if the pH drops from 11.5 to

9.5. However, this only applies if the composition contains oleic acid.

As mentioned above, higher concentrations of the composition (independent of pH) increase the antibacterial effect of the article. The presence of oleic acid is likely to be a key factor in the efficacy of the composition against Gram-positive organisms such as S. aureus, while pH is probably a more important factor in Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Pseudomonas species.

All parts, percent concentrations, and ratios herein are by weight unless otherwise indicated. All numerical values are approximate unless otherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Example 1

The following example illustrates, but is not limited to, the compositions and methods of the present invention wherein an important foam component is formed using a foam-forming spray head. The base liquid composition of the example can be prepared with a pH in the range of 9.5 to 12.5 by dissolving the components in water or water-ethanol mixtures using a conventional mixer. The water is suitably metered into a mixing vessel. Potassium hydroxide, any phosphoric acid, any citric acid, any bicarbonate, glycerin (processing aid) and any ethanol are added in the order given, with stirring. Add oleic acid under high shear conditions and continue mixing. PEG is then added (which may preferably be pre-dispersed in water). Suitable perfume components may be added at any time after the oleic acid has dissolved in the mixture.

A typical toxicologically acceptable detergent solution suitable for the methods and products described herein has the following composition:

component Weight% Activated Water 89.99 Oleic acid 2, 64 Ethyl alcohol 2.00 Potassium hydroxide 2.32 Sodium bicarbonate 2.00 Citric acid 0.52 Grapefruit oil terpenes 0.03 PEG 3350 0.50

In the test that is summarized below, the same cleaning compositions were placed in the same spray products, one with a foam-forming nozzle and the other with a non-foam-forming nozzle. Consumers were then asked to use a product to clean food surfaces, including apples. The results are summarized below:

Test type: pair comparison

Foam spray head

Non-foaming spray head

Grass washing / Rinse those (%):

- overall preference 69 31 - preference in terms of soap foam 67 33 - feeling bigger slizkosti 35 65 - easier rinsing 55 45 - feeling more clean 62 38 - removes more wax of apples 59 41

Evaluation of intensity (average):

soap foam (1 - none,

9 = large) 6/1 4.0 slime (1 = none, 9 = large) 4.1 4.9 rinse ease (1 = easy, 9 = very difficult) 3.3 3.1

Surprisingly, it turned out that customers preferred a foamy composition when comparing the same cleaning agents, in a ratio of more than 2: 1. Interestingly, the foaming agent was evaluated as having a lesser slimy feel, and is only a little more difficult to rinse.

Industrial usability

The invention encompasses compositions, methods, and articles for cleaning and / or sanitizing articles comprising edible animal proteins, e.g. meat, seafood and poultry, and products, e.g. fruit and vegetables intended for human or lower animal feeding.

Claims (8)

PATENT CLAIMS A product comprising a spray container, characterized in that it is suitable for use by an individual consumer for cleaning products and products containing edible animal proteins, and which comprises a toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution, said cleaning solution being applied using a reservoir so as to form a clear » visible amount of foam. Product according to claim 1, characterized in that said product can be applied in the form of a foam which remains visible for at least 3 seconds, preferably at least 1 minute. An article according to claims 1 to 2, wherein said spray container further comprises a spray head generating a foam. 4th product according to claim 3, characterized s a T that said spray foam head is a controlled by the trigger. 5th product according to claim 1, characterized s a wherein said toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution further comprises a non-detergent foam builder which is preferably selected from the group of polymeric substances having a thickening effect and at the same time reducing shear-thinning thickeners, preferably at a concentration of 0.001% to 1%, or 0.005% to 0.5%. Product according to claim 5, characterized in that said polymeric substances which have a thickening effect and at the same time reduce the viscosity under shear-thinning thickeners are selected from the group comprising substituted celluloses, modified polysaccharides and naturally occurring resins (gums), preferably xanthan gums at a concentration of 0.001% to 1%. A product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution comprises all components classified as GRAS. A product comprising a spray container, characterized in that it is suitable for use by an individual sprayer to consumers for the cleaning of products and products containing edible animal proteins and which contains a toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution containing: (a) 0.01 to 15% of a C 12 to C 18 fatty acid molecule (C 6 -C ₁₈ ); (b) preferably 0.1wt% to 4wt% of a nonionic surfactant; (c) preferably 0.1 wt% to 4 wt% organic polycarboxylic acid; (d) preferably not more than 0.2% by weight of an anionic surfactant stable under alkaline conditions; (e) preferably a toxicologically acceptable basic buffer; (f) preferably a toxicologically acceptable preservative; (g) preferably at least 0.05% by weight of a water-soluble polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of 200 or more; (h) preferably 0.05% to 10% phosphoric acid; and (i) an aqueous carrier residue selected from water and preferably a low molecular weight, toxicologically acceptable organic solvent; wherein the cleaning solution has a pH of 9.5 to 12.5; and the cleaning solution can be applied from the cartridge to form a clearly visible amount of foam. 9. A method of purifying products and articles containing edible animal proteins, characterized in that the toxicologically acceptable cleaning solution is applied in the form of visible foam to the surface of the product and article containing edible animal proteins, preferably the pH-acceptable cleaning solution has a pH of 8-12. 5 and / or preferably all of its components are of the GRAS type. The method of claim 9, comprising the step of contacting the surface of said product and the product containing edible animal proteins with said visible foam for at least 3 seconds using the product of any one of claims 1 to 8.