Food gets spoiled because of fungus, bacterial growth, over-ripening and sprouting. The annual global food waste is about 25% (worth ~$4 trillions). JP Labs has demonstrated that the shelf-life of a large number of foods can be extended significantly by treating foods with non-toxic or GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) additives. Though we have demonstrated the feasibility of the concepts, analytical work to determine (i) any chemical and biological changes in the treated food and (ii) is the treated food safe to eat? is required. Five US patents have been issued and the patent application is also filed in about ten industrialized countries on this technology. The potential global annual market for extending the shelf-life of foods could be tens to hundreds of billions of dollars.

FOOD LOSS AND WASTE WORLDWIDE

Food loss and waste worldwide infographic

Roughly one quarter of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year, estimated worth ~$4 Trillion gets wasted.

http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/flw-data

FOOD SPOILAGE & WASTE

Food gets spoiled and hence trashed because of :
  • Fungus.
  • Over ripening.
  • Sprouting.
  • Flood.
  • Over production.
Blueberries affected by fungus Over-ripening bananas Sprouting potatoes Flooding at grain silos Apples in overproduction

TESTING TOMATOES

Untreated

Tomato untreated comparison: start and 9 days

Treated

Tomato treated comparison: start, 9 days, 14 days and 18 days

TESTING AVOCADO

Avocado control and treated comparison, 9 days

TESTING PAPAYA

Papaya control and treated comparison, 11 days

TESTING BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries control 5 days and treated 67 days

TESTING LYCHEE

Lychee control 3 days and treated 31 days

TESTING HANDVO (an Indian bread)

Handvo control 5 days and treated 90 days

TESTING CHEESE

Cheese control 7 days and treated 34 days

TESTING MILK

Milk control 4 days and treated 21 days

TESTING POTATOES (100% humidity)

Potatoes control 20 days and treated 48 days

TESTING UNHUSKED RICE

Unhusked rice control 8 days and treated 60 days

TESTING MIXED LEGUMES

Mixed legumes control 6 days and treated 21 days