IFAS News article 5/02/2002: Ozone May Stop Bacteria In Produce Processing Better Than Food Irradiation And Current Washing Methods, Says UF Expert
By Tom Nordlie
Gainesville, Fla. – Ozone, the gas that protects the Earth from ultraviolet radiation, may soon give U.S. food shoppers better protection from harmful bacteria.
Retailers could sanitize fruits and vegetables by exposing them to ozone before they go on sale, said Gary Rodrick, a professor with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. In Europe, ozone has been used for decades to sanitize water and food products.