Wood conditioner with antiseptic properties

Abstract

Composition and method for simultaneously disinfecting and conditioning a wooden cutting surface, such as a cutting board or counter top. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a mixture of ethanol and food-grade mineral oil where the ethanol is present in an amount sufficient impart antiseptic properties. To the extent desired, other adjuvants, such as flavor enhancers, coloring agents, and the like may be added. The method comprises contacting the wooden cutting surface with such composition for a time sufficient to enable the ethanol to adequately disinfect the cutting surface. Preferably, such method may be performed by merely spraying or wiping the composition directly onto the wooden cutting surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Wooden cutting boards for cutting food are well-known and utilized extensively. In this regard, such cutting boards provide a solid, heavy-duty surface upon which food items, and in particular vegetables, fruits, and meats, can be cut to desired dimensions or portions. Advantageously, the wood surface provides sufficient durability to serve as a cutting surface without damaging the steel knife blades typically utilized to cut the food items. Indeed, but for the typical wear and tear associated with repeated cuttings, wooden cutting boards can be used indefinitely. Along these lines, due to the attractiveness and durability of wood, such cutting boards are frequently incorporated as countertop surfaces in kitchens and the like to thus provide a readily accessible surface upon which food may be cut.[0002]Notwithstanding their advantages, wooden cutting boards and counter tops suffer from numerous drawbacks. Perhaps most serious of such drawbacks is the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a composition and method for simultaneously disinfecting and conditioning a wood cutting surface. The composition is made of ethanol and food-grade mineral oil, which provides antiseptic properties without causing the wood to dry out and become unsightly. The composition can be formulated from existing materials, is inexpensive, and is safer and more efficient than prior art compositions. The method involves applying the composition to the cutting surface and allowing it to remain for a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the desired outcome. The composition can rapidly eradicate pathogens on the cutting surface, increase its lifespan, and is minimally toxic to humans and the environment."

Problems solved by technology

Notwithstanding their advantages, wooden cutting boards and counter tops suffer from numerous drawbacks.

Perhaps most serious of such drawbacks is the ability of such counter top surfaces to harbor communicable diseases capable of causing food poisoning.

As is well-known, due to the porous nature of wood—coupled with the repetition by which the same comes into contact with raw food—serious and sometimes life-threatening food poisoning can be caused by a variety of pathogens that exist upon such surfaces.

While disinfectants and anti-microbial cleaners are well-known and readily available to disinfect such wood cutting surfaces, the use of such cleaning compositions is typically undesirable.

In this regard, such compositions frequently employ harsh cleaning agents that, although effective in killing microorganisms, are toxic in and of themselves.

Separate and apart from the potential toxicities of such cleaning agents are the deleterious effects the same have on the wood itself.

Because of their caustic nature, most cleaning agents in use can and frequently do dry-out the wood surface and cause the same to assume unsightly appearance over time.

In this regard, such cleaning agents, including non-toxic cleaning agents such as regular soap, cause wood to fade and eventually become brittle.

The latter effect is especially problematic insofar as the brittleness imparted to the wood causes the wood to lose strength over time.

As such, when subjected to repeated cuttings, the wood can and does scratch more easily and can even splinter in certain circumstances.