Edible Bacteria: The New Hero In The Fight For Safer Food

The New York Times:

In a handful of food science labs around the country, people who talk about food in terms of microbes and polymers have been turning the natural pathogen fighters found in everyday food into edible films and powders.

If their work pans out, thin films woven with a thyme derivative that can kill E. coli could line bags of fresh spinach. The same material in powder form might be sprinkled on packages of chicken to stop salmonella.

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[MrBoots]

08:33 PM on 08/29/2007

"Most coatings are made from gluten, cellulose, starch and various proteins approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe for consumption."

Gluten, a microscopic amount can make those of us with Celiac Disease violently ill, often requiring hospitalization and a lengthy recuperation. This why we work so hard for accurate content labeling. Am I going to have to examine my "fresh fruit" for "contents?"

[kellygrrrl]

07:00 PM on 08/29/2007

the films will be "Made in China"

[dadw5boys]

03:51 PM on 08/29/2007

Let's see they use Cellouse from wood fibers in our foods, the growth hormone residue can cause women to be aggressive and men passive in our foods, and in order to profit from everything they can the food industry will get legislation passed too keep the consumers from knowing what is in the foods.
WOW WHAT A COUNTRY!