A concentrated quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) solution comprising a
QAC with a concentration from greater than about 10% by weight and at
least one solubility enhancing agent, such as an alcohol, is disclosed. A
diluted QAC solution is used to contact food products to prevent
microbial growth on the food products from a broad spectrum of foodborne
microbial contamination. A method of contacting the food products with
the dilute QAC for an application time of at least 0.1 second is
disclosed. The foods that can be treated by this method are meat and meat
products, seafood, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, pet foods and
snacks, and any other food that can be treated and still retain its
appearance and texture. One of the treatment methods is spraying and
misting the QAC solutions on the food products for an application time of
at least 0.1 second to prevent broad spectrum foodborne microbial
contamination.
