Plasma torch makes short work of bacteria on food

post from Ubergizmo on 08 February 2012 04:04:11 AM. © Ubergizmo

Some of us do have our qualms about eating raw food – especially sushi, although being served a portion at an upmarket Japanese restaurant certainly brings more peace of mind than a fly-by-night operator who touts his wares at dirt cheap prices. There is the possibility of raw food being contaminated by bacteria which could lead to you making frequent visits to the porcelain throne after that, and a new proof-of-concept study conducted by food safety researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia could offer you new hope. Their study pointed to the use of plasma to kill bacteria that homes in on uncooked poultry, vegetables and other kinds of foods. In essence, a ‘plasma torch’ of sorts can change the way the food and restaurant industry operates down the road, since removing harmful bacteria before it arrives at the supermarket or restaurant will certainly reduce the risk of cross-contamination during the food preparation process. (more…)