Ozone and Food Storage
Ozone Helps Produce Last Longer by Extending Shelf Life

Common Applications for Ozone use in Food Storage

Potato Storage Facilities
Onion Storage Facilities
Citrus Fruit Storage
Vegetable Storage
Aged Ham Storage
Cool Meat Storage
Preservation of Fish and Seafood
General Cold Storage Facilities

Methods of Ozone Application

System Diagram

The above diagram shows how a food storage ozone system works. Click image to enlarge.

Ozone gas can be distributed throughout a cold storage facility at low levels.
Ozone-sterilized ice is used to pack fresh fish and seafood to prolong freshness.
Ozone gas is used in meat coolers to inhibit microbiological growth and extend shelf life.
Ozone is dissolved into water to wash fruits and vegetables and remove mold and bacteria.
Low levels of ozone gas can be used in containers to prolong shelf life upon delivery.
Dissolved ozone is used to wash meat and poultry to remove bacteria and extend refrigerated shelf life.

Benefits of Ozone Use in Cold Storage

Extend shelf-life of the produce within the cold storage facility.
Air-borne microbiological control
- Low ozone levels (<0.3 PPM) will inhibit microbiological growth in the air.
- High ozone levels can be used for disinfection when room is empty.
Surface sanitation can be maintained
- By inhibiting microbiological growth pathogens on the surface of produce, containers, and walls will be kept to a minimum.
Eliminate mold growth from cold storage area.
Odor control
- Maintain an odor-free cold storage area
- Keep odors from cross contaminating between products
Ethylene Removal

A Cold Storage Food Warehouse

Extension of Storage Life With Ozone

Ozone has been demonstrated to improve the shelf-life of many foods.

Food	Extension	Storage Conditions
Fish	50-80%	ozone sterilized ice
Salmon	50%	ozone sterilized ice
Jack Mackerel and Shimaaji (fish)	1.2 - 1.6 days	Soak in 30% NaCl cont. 0.6 mg/L O₃ 30-60 min. every 2 days.
Beef (frozen)	30-40%	0.4^oC; 85-90% RH; 10-20 mg/m³ O₃, provided original microbial count is below 10³/cm²
Poultry	2.4 days	Soak in ice water while passing in O₃ (3.88 mg/L) 20 min.
Bananas	substantial	A few ppm O₃ @ 12^oC, if fruit is not within a few days of its period of rapid ripening.
Strawberries, Raspberries, Currents, Grapes	100%	2-3 ppm O₃, continuously or several hours each day.
Apples	several	1.95 cm³ O₃/m³
Potatoes	6 months	3 mg/L O₃; 6-14^oC; 93-97% RH
Eggs	8 months	0.6 ppm O₃; 31^oF; 90% RH
Cheeses	63 days	0.2 - 0.3 ppm O₃

* Source: Review of the Applications of Ozone for Increasing Storage Times of Perishable Foods, Ozone: Science and Engineering, Vol. 4, pp. 147-163, 1982, Pergamon Press Ltd.

Ozone is Allowed for Direct Contact with Food

August 13, 1999 - FDA issues 21CFR Part 173.368 giving ozone GRAS approval for use on all meat and poultry products.
December 23, 1999 - FSIS published final rule approving the use of ozone in meat and poultry products.
December 17, 2002 - USDA issues FSIS Directive 7120.1 naming ozone a Safe and Suitable Ingredient Used in the Production of Meat and Poultry Products

	Ozone is Approved for Use with Food. The USDA and FDA have approved ozone as an antimicrobial agent for use with food processing. With regulatory approval, ozone has become a great option for cost-effectively disinfecting food.

Ozone is Approved for Use with Food.

The USDA and FDA have approved ozone as an antimicrobial agent for use with food processing. With regulatory approval, ozone has become a great option for cost-effectively disinfecting food.

Important Factors in Ozone Storage

Human Safety

Human safety must be factored in to ensure ozone levels are below safe levels when workers are in the area.

Concentrations

Different produce, meats and seafood will require different ozone concentrators to achieve effective preservation.

Ethylene

Many fruits and vegetables release ethylene, this gas accelerates the ripening process. Ozone rapidly oxidized ethylene.

Humidity

Food storage facilities are commonly higher humidity areas. Ozone is rapidly decomposed in high humidity areas. Ozone must be rapidly distributed throughout the area. However, humidity can be used to destroy ozone quickly, allowing employees to return to an area after the ozone introduction has ceased.

Circulation

Food to be stored in ozonized atmospheres should be packed to allow circulation of the ozone and air.

Mold

High humidity levels will make mold and most bacteria more susceptible to ozone. Ozone control of mold and spores is best conducted in relative high humidity areas.

	Ozone in the Food Industry Because ozone is a safe, powerful disinfectant, it can be used to control biological growth of unwanted organisms in products and equipment used in the food processing industries. Ozone is particularly suited to the food industry because of its ability to disinfect microorganisms without adding chemical by-products to the food being treated, or to the food processing water or atmosphere in which food are stored.

Ozone in the Food Industry

Because ozone is a safe, powerful disinfectant, it can be used to control biological growth of unwanted organisms in products and equipment used in the food processing industries. Ozone is particularly suited to the food industry because of its ability to disinfect microorganisms without adding chemical by-products to the food being treated, or to the food processing water or atmosphere in which food are stored.

Featured Products

	Compact Ozone generator The GH-2138 is a compact ozone generator that is perfect for reducing food spoilage and eliminating foul odors in your refrigerator. The timer and low power consumption ensures continual and long lasting freshness. This unit will help to eliminate the cross-contamination of food odors as well. This unit is small and it won't take up very much space in your fridge!
	Industrial Ozone Generators These ozone generators use oxygen or dry air as a feed gas source. They are perfect for a wide variety of food storage applications. Outputs range from 1,000 - 100,000 PPM (0.1-10% wt. concentration).
	High Range Ozone Sensor OS-4 ozone monitor has a range of 0.03-10.0 PPM. Relay contacts enable action at any set point you desire. Digital display of ozone level. Simple and inexpensive. Up to 100-ft of cable ensures remote sensing capability.
	Low Concentration Ozone Analyzer The UV-106 Ozone Analyzer measures atmospheric ozone up to 100 ppm using the established technique of UV absorption at 254 nm. The instrument features high precision, small size and weight (4.3 lb, 2.0 kg), and low power consumption (3.5 Watt at 12 V DC) making it ideally suited for many remote field and urban network applications.