Method for producing washed baby leaves and method for reducing the number of bacteria in washed baby leaves

Abstract

Improves the effectiveness of reducing bacteria during washing in the production of washed baby leaves thing. The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research and found that in the production of washed baby leaves, The purpose of this method is to reduce the moisture adhesion rate of baby leaves when washing them. Essentially, it is a method for producing baby leaves, which consists of packaging and washing. That is, the baby leaves are packed in moisture-absorbing packaging. Then, the packaged baby leaves are washed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing washed baby leaves and a method for producing washed baby leaves. This is a method for reducing the number of bacteria. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, ready-to-eat vegetables have become increasingly popular, for example, in bags or cups. These include leafy vegetables, cut vegetables, salads, etc., because these products have already been washed and sterilized. This is because it eliminates the need for cleaning.

[0003] However, there are various problems with ready-to-eat vegetables, specifically, unsold items. The reasons for these problems are that ready-to-eat vegetables are not fresh. Because it is a food product, its shelf life is short.

[0004] Therefore, technologies have been developed to improve the expiration date of ready-to-eat vegetables, such as the following: The following is a description of the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 for preserving cut vegetables. When storing cut vegetables, a sterilizing solution is applied to them and then they are washed with water.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for producing leafy vegetables, specifically, a method for storing leaves. After the disinfectant solution is applied, the surface is washed with water. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-65149 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-237208 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to reduce the number of bacteria on washed baby leaves. .

[0008] Baby leaves generally have high bacterial counts after harvest and after storage. Therefore, it is important to reduce the number of bacteria when producing washed baby leaves. Because it is a fresh food, it is not advisable to sterilize it by heating, and washing is important to reduce the number of bacteria. This is a process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve this problem, the inventors have conducted extensive research and discovered that baby leaf water The relationship between the rate of adhesion of bacteria and the effect of reducing the number of bacteria after washing is the key to defining the present invention. Then, the result is as follows:

[0010] The method for producing washed baby leaves according to the present invention comprises at least washing. The baby leaves that are washed here are baby leaves, and the moisture content of the baby leaves is 1 It is less than 0.0%.

[0011] The method for producing washed baby leaves according to the present invention comprises at least the steps of removing water and The water that is removed here is the water that has adhered to the baby leaves and is then washed. The baby leaves used are those that have been dehydrated.

[0012] In addition, the moisture content of the baby leaves obtained by dewatering is 1.0% or less. Preferably, the dehydration is carried out by drying after harvesting or by wrapping the baby leaves when transporting them after harvesting. Preferably, this is done by using a moisture-absorbing material.

[0013] The cleaning solution used for cleaning contains at least hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite. The number of bacteria in the baby leaves obtained by removing water and washing is preferably 1.0×10 5 It is preferable that the number is CFU / g or less.

[0014] Furthermore, the temperature range for distribution of washed baby leaves produced by this manufacturing method is chilled. The general viable bacteria count of the washed baby leaves produced 24 hours after production is 1. 0×10 6 Preferably less than CFU / g.

[0015] The method for reducing the number of bacteria in washed baby leaves according to the present invention comprises at least Here, baby leaves are washed to remove moisture from the leaves. The adhesion rate is 1.0% or less. This consists of at least dewatering and cleaning. The water adhering to the leaf and the baby leaf that is washed is the dehydrated baby leaf.

[0016] In addition, the moisture content of the baby leaves obtained by dehydration is 1.0% or less. Preferably, the dehydration is carried out by drying after harvesting or by wrapping the baby leaves when transporting them after harvesting. Preferably, this is done by using a moisture-absorbing material.

[0017] The cleaning solution used for cleaning contains at least hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite. The number of bacteria in the baby leaves obtained by removing water and washing is preferably 1.0×10 5 It is preferable that the number is CFU / g or less.

[0018] Furthermore, the temperature range for distribution of the washed baby leaves obtained by this method is chilled. The general viable bacterial count of washed baby leaves obtained by this method 24 hours after production was , 1.0×10 6 Preferably less than CFU / g.

[0019] The mechanism by which the effects of the present invention are obtained is presumed to be as follows: Before the process, the moisture on the surface of the baby leaves is reduced to enhance the sterilization effect. This allows the cleaning solution to penetrate the leaves more easily, thereby enhancing the disinfecting effect. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] The present invention makes it possible to improve the effect of reducing the number of bacteria when washing baby leaves. By reducing the number of bacteria on baby leaves, the shelf life of washed baby leaves can be improved. Such washed baby leaves can be eaten without further washing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a flow chart showing a method for producing washed baby leaves according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] Difference in bacterial count after washing with or without dewatering DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] <Baby leaf> Baby leaf means leafy vegetables that are about 10 to 90 days old after sowing. When "baby leaf" is used, the type of baby leaf can be singular or plural, and the specific It can be one type of baby leaf or a mix of several types of baby leaf. The size of baby leaves varies depending on the type of plant, so there is no limit, but it is important to choose the size that is easy to eat. From this viewpoint, the distance is 4 cm or more and 15 cm or less, preferably 12 cm or less, more preferably Preferably it is 10 cm or less.

[0023] The plants used for baby leaves are not particularly limited as long as they are edible. Examples include: These include vegetables from the Brassicaceae, Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Umbelliferae, Liliaceae, and Chenopodiaceae families. Examples include sunny lettuce, green curls, lettuce, mizuna, beets, mustard greens, and green lettuce. Green mustard, arugula, spinach, red mustard greens, romaine, red oak, tatsoi, Kobeni, Lollo Rossa, Red Asian Mustard, Pinot Green, White Kale, Red These include Dokale, Detroit, and Pak Choy.

[0024] <Containerized salad> The containerized salad according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "contained salad") is a salad. and packaged and containing at least washed baby leaves. The temperature range for distributing packaged salads is preferably the so-called chilled (refrigerated) range. The chilled temperature range is a distribution temperature range below 10°C where the food does not freeze. Preferably, it is from 0°C to 10°C, more preferably from 0°C to 5°C.

[0025] <Manufacturing method of washed baby leaves> Figure 1 shows the manufacturing process of washed baby leaves. The manufacturing method mainly consists of cultivation, harvesting (S10), transportation (S20), sorting (S30), Water removal (S40), washing (S50), soaking (S60), dehydration or drying (S70), packaging This is (S80).

[0026] <Cultivation and Harvesting (S10)> The method for cultivating baby leaves is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include hydroponics, soil cultivation, and open cultivation. Hydroponic cultivation is less affected by the weather and is less susceptible to the effects of the weather. The advantage of closed plant factories is that they are hygienic and have a stable supply of nutrients. It is also preferable from the viewpoint of production. Here, we will introduce the method of cultivating and producing baby leaves. The content is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-060441.

[0027] The baby leaves thus cultivated are harvested. The harvesting method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include For example, humans, machines, or a combination of both.

[0028] <Transportation (S20)> One of the purposes of transporting harvested baby leaves is to clean them. There is no limitation to this, and examples include container packing, bag packing, cardboard packing, etc. From the viewpoint of reducing the moisture content of the leaves, it is preferable to use a dehumidifying device during transportation. This replaces the water removal process described below. In addition, the effect of reducing the number of bacteria during cleaning, which will be described later, is enhanced.

[0029] <Sorting (S30)> The standard for selecting baby leaves is whether they are damaged or not. Baby leaves (leaves and petioles) are broken, chipped, or torn, The internal structure of the leaves is damaged and some may have an unsightly appearance. By removing the damaged baby leaves, the final product will look better. become.

[0030] <Water removal (S40)> The purpose of dehydrating baby leaves is to enhance the effect of reducing the number of bacteria during the cleaning process, which will be described later. For this purpose, the time to remove water is before washing. The method of removing water is not particularly limited. , standing, blowing air, cold air, hot air, centrifugal separation, vacuum suction, and the use of moisture-absorbing materials or these The dehydration is achieved by using a material with a dehumidifying effect in the packaging during the transportation. The goal of water removal is not particularly limited, but preferably The moisture content should be 1.0% or less. This will prevent bacteria from being removed by washing. The effect of reducing numbers is enhanced.

[0031] <Cleaning (S50)> The purpose of washing baby leaves is to remove foreign matter and reduce the number of bacteria. The mud, soil, sand, etc. that adhere to the baby leaves are not particularly limited in the means of cleaning the baby leaves. Although not limited, the method of contacting the sample with sterilized water is preferred. Examples include soaking, spraying, etc. The number of times baby leaves are washed is once or twice. That's all. The effect of the solution used for cleaning is to reduce the general viable bacteria count. is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite, chlorite, hydroxide Sodium, potassium hydroxide, calcined calcium, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, peracetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid Acid, ozone, etc., preferably hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite, and chlorite. The preferred conditions for hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite, and chlorite are concentrations of 10 to 200 ppm. pm, and pH is 4.8 to 8.0. The pH is more preferably 5.0 to 7.0. These measures will increase the effectiveness of reducing the number of bacteria.

[0032] <Wetted temperature> When contacting with sterilized water, the temperature of the sterilized water is 0°C to 30°C, preferably , 0°C to 20°C, more preferably 0°C to 15°C, and most preferably The temperature of the sterilized water is 0 to 10°C. If the temperature is too high or too low, it will damage the baby leaves. For example, the smell of sterilized water may be absorbed more easily, the plant may wilt more easily, and the plant may become more susceptible to the effects of sunlight. It becomes difficult to hold.

[0033] <Liquid contact time> The contact time is not particularly limited, but is between 10 seconds and 60 minutes, and preferably 10 seconds. The time is preferably 10 seconds to 15 minutes, and most preferably 10 seconds to 10 minutes. If the time is too short, it is difficult to reduce the number of general live bacteria. On the other hand, if the time of contact with the liquid is too long, the number of general live bacteria will be reduced. The damage will be greater.

[0034] <Water soaking (S60)> The purpose of soaking baby leaves in water is to remove the fungicide. In other words, this step may be omitted as appropriate. The method of exposure is not particularly limited, but preferably includes immersion in water or spraying with water.

[0035] <Soaking water> The bleaching water is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, tap water, well water, purified water, etc. and the chlorine contained in water that has undergone necessary sanitary measures (Water Supply Law Enforcement Regulations (December 1957) See Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ordinance No. 45 of the 14th)) is not subject to removal by soaking in water.

[0036] <Water soaking temperature> The temperature for the water soaking is 0°C to 30°C, preferably 0°C to 20°C, and most preferably Preferably, it is between 0°C and 10°C. If the water soaking temperature is too high or too low, the baby's This will increase damage to the blade.

[0037] <Water soaking time> The time for soaking in water is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 second to 60 minutes. Preferably, it is from 5 seconds to 30 minutes, and most preferably from 10 seconds to 10 minutes. If the soaking time is too short, the disinfectant removal effect will be low. On the other hand, if the soaking time is too long, , which will cause greater damage to baby leaves.

[0038] <Dehydration or drying (S70)> The purpose of dehydrating or drying the washed baby leaves is to improve the appearance of the baby leaves after washing. The method of dehydration or drying is not particularly limited, and may be left standing, blown with air, cold air, hot air, centrifugal These include separation, vacuum suction, the use of moisture-absorbing materials, and a combination of these. Considering damage caused by contact and pressure from centrifugation, avoid centrifugation and expose to air. The goal of the water removal is not particularly limited, but preferably The moisture adhesion rate is 3.0% or less. Details of the moisture adhesion rate will be described later.

[0039] <Containerized (S80)> The baby leaves are packed in containers. There are no particular restrictions on the packaging materials used for packing. However, polyethylene bags, cups, etc.

[0040] <Moisture adhesion rate> The moisture content of baby leaves is the weight of the leaves after removing the moisture. The value obtained by dividing the value by 100 is the value obtained by multiplying the value by 100. The specific method for measuring the moisture adhesion rate is as follows: The weight of the leaf with water attached (A) is measured. Then, the water attached to the leaf is measured. The leaf is then wiped with absorbent paper, and the weight of the leaf (B) is measured after removing the adhering moisture. The moisture adhesion rate can be calculated using the following formula: Moisture adhesion rate (%) = 100 x (A-B) / B <Number of bacteria> The number of bacteria in the baby leaves measured is the general viable bacterial count. The method for measuring the general viable bacterial count is as follows: Any publicly known method is acceptable, and specifically, the Food Sanitation Inspection Guidelines (Japan Food Sanitation Association, 2014) This is a pour plate method using standard agar medium in accordance with the standard (2004). The number of live bacteria can be reduced by 1.0 to 3.0 orders of magnitude. The general viable bacteria count after purification was 1.0 x 10 4 ~1.0×10 5 CFU / g. Washed Baby The general viable cell count 24 hours after leaf production is preferably 1.0 x 10 6 CFU / g or less, and more preferably 1.0 × 10 5 CFU / g or less. The preferred general viable bacteria count for baby leaf 72 hours after production is 1.0 x 10 6 C FU / g or less. This means that it can be eaten without washing afterwards. In addition, the hygiene standards for boxed lunches and side dishes (Kanshoku No. 161, June 29, 1979) Amended on October 12, 1995 (Hei-shoku No. 188, Hei-nyu No. 211, Hei-ka No. 119) The general viable bacterial count is 1.0 x 10 6 CFU / g or less. [Example]

[0041] The baby leaf of the present invention is embodied in Example 1. The scope of the claims of the present invention is not limited thereby.

[0042] <Baby leaf> The baby leaves used in this example were a mixture of pino greens, spinach, beets, and arugula. It is a mixture.

[0043] <Measurement of bacterial count> The bacterial count in this measurement is based on the Food Sanitation Inspection Guidelines (Japan Food Sanitation Association, 200 The study was conducted in accordance with the method prescribed in the 4th year.

[0044] <Comparative Example 1> In Comparative Example 1, the baby leaves after harvesting were packed in bags and placed in plastic containers. After transporting to the factory and sorting, the products are washed with hypochlorous acid and then soaked in water. The moisture adhesion rate was measured before cleaning, and the moisture adhesion rate was measured before cleaning, after drying, and after drying. After 72 hours, the number of bacteria was measured.

[0045] Example 1 In Example 1, the baby leaves after harvesting were packed in bags, and the bags were placed in cardboard boxes with the openings of the bags open. The product was washed, soaked in water, and dried in the same conditions as in Comparative Example 1, except that it was transported to the factory. The moisture adhesion rate was measured before cleaning, and then after drying, and after 72 hours of drying. The bacteria count was measured at the same time. The same conditions as Comparative Example 1 were used except that cardboard boxes were used for transportation. Tests were conducted on the following items.

[0046] [Table 1]

[0047] <Evaluation results, summary> Considering the above test results, it was decided that the hygroscopic materials should be used for transportation after harvesting, rather than containers. By using cardboard as packaging material, the rate of moisture adhesion to the surface of baby leaves is reduced. Then, by sterilizing it with cleaning water that has a bactericidal effect, the effect of reducing the number of bacteria is enhanced, Even after 72 hours of production, the number of bacteria in the washed baby leaves was significantly lower than in the container-transported category. The numbers remained low.

[0048] This reduces the rate of water adhesion to the surface of baby leaves, and It was found that reducing the adhesion rate to 1.0 or less increases the effectiveness of reducing the number of bacteria during cleaning. It was found that the consumption period can be extended by using the method of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The field in which the present invention is useful is the method for producing washed baby leaves and the method for producing washed baby leaves. This is a method for reducing the number of bacteria.

Claims

1. A method for producing baby leaves, comprising at least the following steps: Harvesting: The harvested leaves are baby leaves, and Packaging: The baby leaves are harvested and packed in moisture-absorbing packaging. Transportation: The baby leaves are packed and are transported to the cleaning process. The moisture adhesion rate of the transported baby leaves is 1.0% or less, Washing: It is the transported baby leaves that are washed.

2. The method of claim 1, The moisture-absorbing packaging material is cardboard.

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