Chiquita Brands has announced that following years of intensive research and investment, it has introduced FreshRinse, a new produce wash that has been found to dramatically reduce microorganisms on leafy greens.
“Based on our extensive research, we view FreshRinse as the biggest invention since the start of pre-packaged salads,” said Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer. “FreshRinse sets a new standard in food safety for the produce industry.”
FreshRinse is a scientifically validated advancement for fresh produce safety that delivers a substantial reduction in microorganisms on leafy greens, including superior microbial efficacy against pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7, when compared with chlorine produce washes.
After rigorous testing, including challenging studies on suspended and attached pathogen cells, FreshRinse results indicated substantial reduction of such food borne pathogens, with a third-party pathogen study performed by the National Center for Food Safety and Technology.
According to the company, for example, FreshRinse reduced 78 times more Salmonella on Romaine lettuce leaves than did chlorinated products. FreshRinse also secondarily resulted in more than 750 times greater reduction of suspended pathogens compared to chlorinated wash water.
