Jan 27, 2017: The project focuses on the development of an innovative process for increasing the microbiological safety of packaged fresh-cut salads by monitoring and sanitizing the process water. Within the framework of the BMEL Exhibition at the International Green Week 2017, German Federal Agriculture Minister Schmidt handed over the funding documents to the project participants - among them ATB scientist and coordinator of the project Dr. Karin Hassenberg.
The aim of the project is to develop an innovative method for disinfection of process water for fresh-cut ready-to-eat salads, which allows recycling of the treated, microbiological and food unobjectionable water in the washing process in order to increase the microbiological safety in the process and significantly reduce fresh water consumption.
"The project follows two apparantly contradicting targets: the production of high-quality, fresh horticultural products and at the same time the demand for an efficient use of scarce fresh water resources", describes Dr. Karin Hassberg the challenging task.
The core of the process will be a novel single-chamber flow-through electrolysis cell, which, unlike existing solutions, will need no additives. It is to be integrated into new and existing salad-washing systems. Via its integrated control unit, the cell is to sanitize the washing water in time according to the individual demand. The microbiological and chemical data base necessary for the control will be collected in experiments in the laboratory and in practice. The cooperation with industry partners makes it possible to test the system in a well-founded manner and to evaluate the treatment success. The cooperation with industry partners allows sound testing of the system and to evaluate the treatment success.
Processing of packaged convenience salads includes cleaning, cutting, washing, drying and packaging. Products are generally washed in a two-stage process: in the first step, coarse pollutions are removed while the second step is the post-wash. Even intensive washing results only in a reduction of microorganisms by 1-2 log. Recycling of wash water to reduce water consumption also carries the risk of cross-contamination.
The joint research project "Development of an innovative technique to increase microbial security of prepacked salads by monitoring and disinfection of the washing water (SiMoHyP)" is funded with 0,3 Mio Euro for a period of two years by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), supported within its funding framework "Innovation" by the project agency Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). The project is coordinated by ATB. Partners in the consortium are aquagroup AG, Weiden, Kronen GmbH, Kehl am Rhein, and Havita Berlin Frischgemüse GmbH.
Contact: Dr. Karin Hassenberg
The project is part of the ATB's research program "Quality and safety of food and feed"