Concentrated, non-foaming solution of quaternary ammonium compounds and methods of use

Abstract

A method of using quaternary ammonium compounds for inhibiting attachment of and removing a broad spectrum of foodborne microbial contamination from food products. The method uses quaternary ammonium compounds for inhibiting attachment of and removing microorganisms such as, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Listeria, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Salmonella , non-toxin-producing Escherichia , and pathogenic toxin-producing Escherichia , such as 0157:H7; fungi, such as Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum ; and parasites, such as Entameba histolytica from a broad range of food. The foods that can be treated by this method are meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruit. One of the treatment methods is spraying quaternary ammonium compounds on the food products to prevent broad spectrum foodborne microbial contamination. New formulations of quaternary ammonium compounds combined with glycerin and/or ethyl alcohol provides a concentrated formulation for industrial use and a diluted formulation for use in spraying methods.

1 . A method for reducing  Salmonella  contamination of poultry, comprising applying a quaternary ammonium compound to a post-evisceration poultry carcass for less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds, said quaternary ammonium compound being selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide; 
 a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):  
                     
 wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and  
 an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):  
                     
 wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide.  
 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said post-evisceration poultry carcass comprises a pre-chill, post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in solution in a weight percent that is less than or equal to approximately 0.1%.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is applied to said post-evisceration poultry carcass by spraying.  
     
     
         6 . A method for reducing  Salmonella  contamination of poultry, comprising: 
 (1) providing a first component and one or more additional components, said first component comprising a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):                          wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide;    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):                          wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):                          wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide;    (2) combining said first component with said one or more additional components at a ratio of less than or equal to approximately 0.1 part of said first component to 100 parts of said one or more additional components to form a composition; and    (3) applying said composition to a poultry carcass for a time period of less than 5 minutes.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound comprises cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step (3) comprises spraying said composition on said poultry carcass for said time period of less than 5 minutes.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said poultry carcass comprises a post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said poultry carcass comprises a pre-chill, post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step (3) comprises applying said composition to a plurality of poultry carcasses for a time period of less than 5 minutes per carcass.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said time period is less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said time period is less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         14 . A method for reducing  Salmonella  contamination of poultry, comprising: 
 (1) providing a concentrated solution, said concentrated solution comprising a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):                          wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide;    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):                          wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):                          wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide;    (2) diluting said concentrated solution to provide a working solution, said quaternary ammonium compound being present in said working solution in a concentration of from about 50 ppm to about 5,000 ppm; and    (3) spraying said working solution on a post-evisceration, pre-chill poultry carcass.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound comprises cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein step (3) comprises spraying said working solution on said post-evisceration, pre-chill poultry carcass for less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in said concentrated solution in a concentration of from about 100,000 ppm to about 300,000 ppm.  
     
     
         18 . A method for reducing contamination of poultry by a pathogenic toxin-producing  Escherichia , comprising applying a quaternary ammonium compound to a post-evisceration poultry carcass for less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds, said quaternary ammonium compound being selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide; 
 a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):  
                     
 wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and  
 an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):  
                     
 wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said post-evisceration poultry carcass comprises a pre-chill, post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in solution in a weight percent that is less than or equal to approximately 0.1%.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said pathogenic toxin-producing  Escherichia  comprises  Escherichia coli  0157:H7.  
     
     
         23 . A method for reducing contamination of poultry by a pathogenic toxin-producing  Escherichia , comprising: 
 (1) providing a first component and one or more additional components, said first component comprising a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):                          wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide;    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):                          wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):                          wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide;    (2) combining said first component with said one or more additional components at a ratio of less than or equal to approximately 0.1 part of said first component to 100 parts of said one or more additional components to form a composition; and    (3) applying said composition to a poultry carcass for a time period of less than 5 minutes.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound comprises cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (3) comprises spraying said composition on said poultry carcass for said time period of less than 5 minutes.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said poultry carcass comprises a post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said poultry carcass comprises a pre-chill, post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (3) comprises applying said composition to a plurality of poultry carcasses for a time period of less than 5 minutes per carcass.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said time period is less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said pathogenic toxin-producing Escherichia comprises  Escherichia coli  0157:H7.  
     
     
         31 . A method for reducing contamination of poultry by a pathogenic toxin-producing  Escherichia , comprising: 
 (1) providing a concentrated solution, said concentrated solution comprising a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):                          wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide;    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):                          wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):                          wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide;    (2) diluting said concentrated solution to provide a working solution, said quaternary ammonium compound being present in said working solution in a concentration of from about 50 ppm to about 5,000 ppm; and    (3) spraying said working solution on a post-evisceration, pre-chill poultry carcass.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound comprises cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein step (3) comprises spraying said working solution on said post-evisceration, pre-chill poultry carcass for less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in said concentrated solution in a concentration of from about 100,000 ppm to about 300,000 ppm.  
     
     
         35 . A method for reducing  Campylobacter  contamination of poultry, comprising applying a quaternary ammonium compound to a post-evisceration poultry carcass for less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds, said quaternary ammonium compound being selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide; 
 a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):  
                     
 wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and  
 an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):  
                     
 wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said post-evisceration poultry carcass comprises a pre-chill, post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in solution in a weight percent that is less than or equal to approximately 0.1%.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is applied to said post-evisceration poultry carcass by spraying.  
     
     
         40 . A method for reducing  Campylobacter  contamination of poultry, comprising: 
 (1) providing a first component and one or more additional components, said first component comprising a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):                          wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide;    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):                          wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):                          wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide;    (2) combining said first component with said one or more additional components at a ratio of less than or equal to approximately 0.1 part of said first component to 100 parts of said one or more additional components to form a composition; and    (3) applying said composition to a poultry carcass for a time period of less than 5 minutes.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound comprises cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein step (3) comprises spraying said composition on said poultry carcass for said time period of less than 5 minutes.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said poultry carcass comprises a post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said poultry carcass comprises a pre-chill, post-evisceration poultry carcass.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein step (3) comprises applying said composition to a plurality of poultry carcasses for a time period of less than 5 minutes per carcass.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said time period is less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said time period is less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         48 . A method for reducing  Campylobacter  contamination of poultry, comprising: 
 (1) providing a concentrated solution, said concentrated solution comprising a quaternary ammonium compound selected from the group consisting of an alkylpyridinium salt represented by the structural formula (I):                          wherein n is 9-21, and X is a halide;    a tetra-alkylammonium salt represented by the structural formula (II):                          wherein n is 9-21, and R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide; and    an alkylalicyclic ammonium salt represent by the structural formula (III):                          wherein n is 9-21, Z is 4-5, R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3  and C 2 H 5 , and X is a halide;    (2) diluting said concentrated solution to provide a working solution, said quaternary ammonium compound being present in said working solution in a concentration of from about 50 ppm to about 5,000 ppm; and    (3) spraying said working solution on a post-evisceration, pre-chill poultry carcass.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound comprises cetylpyridinium chloride.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein step (3) comprises spraying said working solution on said post-evisceration, pre-chill poultry carcass for less than or equal to approximately 90 seconds.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said quaternary ammonium compound is present in said concentrated solution in a concentration of from about 100,000 ppm to about 300,000 ppm.