Industry Application Example 5

Improving the washing process at a large-scale fresh bean sprout processing and packing plant (Hokkaido, Aomori Prefecture):

In this process, it is often said that bleaching chemical is being used to render a better product apparance at the risk of violating the food safety law. Besides, this practice give rise to a new problem of having to thoroughly wash the bleached bean sprouts. This process breaks individual sprouts and make them look untidy when retail-packaged.
We introduced our ITC-treated water and succeeded not only in greatly simplfying the washing process, but also significantly extending the life of the bean sprouts. The ITC-treated sprouts, when stored in the home refrigirator, proved to stay alive for more than several days. In fact, they turned green when taken out and kept outside in the sun.    

TLSL Comments:

(1) Being alive is the proof of the best produce quality, which was recognized in the market and appreciated by the consumers above the conventional products.

(2) This method can be used for all other farm products brought into the market place.

OIARI Comments:

The Chinese vegetables and other agricultural products exported to Japan are in most cases the crops from large-scale farms operated by large enterprises, oftentimes overgrown and hardened to minimize loss in transit. The ITC technology might play a major role in enabling them to export them while they are still tender and juicy.