Abstract: An antimicrobial coating material for post-harvest coating of produce includes a mixture of an acid component and a film-forming carbohydrate. A method for post-harvest treatment of produce includes applying a coating material onto produce after harvest and cleaning, thereby producing an antimicrobial coating in the form of an encapsulating film on the surface of the produce. A method for inactivating microbial spores on produce includes applying a coating material onto produce after harvest and cleaning, thereby producing an antimicrobial coating that is effective to inactivate microbial spores on the produce.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying a chemical, such as an ammonia control chemical, in an animal house. The apparatus includes spreading apparatus adapted to be installed at an elevated position in the animal house and adapted for spreading the chemical onto the floor in the house. The apparatus also includes feeding apparatus adapted for feeding the chemical from a supply to the spreading apparatus. A method of controlling ammonia emissions from an animal agriculture operation includes applying an ammonia control chemical during both the early part and the late part of the grow out of the animals so that the chemical contacts ammonia from animal waste and reduces or prevents its emission into the air.

Abstract: An animal house has ammonia control apparatus. The animal house is a building structured for housing one or more animals. Apparatus is positioned inside the animal house for removing ammonia from air, and then returning the air inside the animal house. A method for removing ammonia from air in an animal house includes removing ammonia from air with an apparatus positioned inside the animal house, and then returning the air with ammonia removed inside the animal house.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying a chemical, such as an ammonia control chemical, in an animal house. The apparatus includes spreading apparatus adapted to be installed at an elevated position in the animal house and adapted for spreading the chemical onto the floor in the house. The apparatus also includes feeding apparatus adapted for feeding the chemical from a supply to the spreading apparatus. A method of controlling ammonia emissions from an animal agriculture operation includes applying an ammonia control chemical during both the early part and the late part of the grow out of the animals so that the chemical contacts ammonia from animal waste and reduces or prevents its emission into the air.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying a chemical, such as an ammonia control chemical, in an animal house. The apparatus includes spreading apparatus adapted to be installed at an elevated position in the animal house and adapted for spreading the chemical onto the floor in the house. The apparatus also includes feeding apparatus adapted for feeding the chemical from a supply to the spreading apparatus. A method of controlling ammonia emissions from an animal agriculture operation includes applying an ammonia control chemical during both the early part and the late part of the grow out of the animals so that the chemical contacts ammonia from animal waste and reduces or prevents its emission into the air.

Abstract: A food treatment method involves applying alkali metal bisulfate to an outer surface of a food, by an application process beginning with the alkali metal bisulfate in a solution and ending with the alkali metal bisulfate at least partially crystallized when it contacts the food surface. In certain embodiments, the application process causes at least partial evaporation of solvent from the solution. For example, the application process may include forming droplets of the solution, and/or propelling the solution with a gas having a relative humidity not greater than 60% or a temperature of at least 20° C. In certain embodiments, the beginning solution is an aqueous solution including the alkali metal bisulfate at a concentration within a range from 30% to 80%.

Abstract: An antimicrobial composition useful for microbial reduction on food includes an oxidizer and an acid component. The oxidizer includes hydrogen peroxide and/or peroxyacetic acid. The acid component includes one or more inorganic acids or their salts. For example, the acid component may be selected from sodium acid sulfate, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the antimicrobial composition additionally includes one or more surfactants. A method of reducing microbes on food includes applying to the food the above-described antimicrobial composition.

Abstract: A microbial control method includes applying dry particles of alkali metal bisulfate to an outer surface of a dry food to control microbial contamination of the food. A food composition includes a dry food having an outer surface covered with dry particles of alkali metal bisulfate that control microbial contamination of the food.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying a chemical, such as an ammonia control chemical, in an animal house. The apparatus includes spreading apparatus adapted to be installed at an elevated position in the animal house and adapted for spreading the chemical onto the floor in the house. The apparatus also includes feeding apparatus adapted for feeding the chemical from a supply to the spreading apparatus. A method of controlling ammonia emissions from an animal agriculture operation includes applying an ammonia control chemical during both the early part and the late part of the grow out of the animals so that the chemical contacts ammonia from animal waste and reduces or prevents its emission into the air.

Abstract: A method and composition for reducing microbes during a meat processing operation are provided. The composition includes an acid blend that is a blend of (a) an organic acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, and mixtures thereof, and (b) a second material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts of an inorganic acids, mineral acids, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of treating a livestock footbath solution comprising adding an alkali metal bisulfate to the solution. The invention also relates to a method of treating a livestock footbath solution comprising adding to the solution a blend of an alkali metal bisulfate and a material to treat a bacterial disease. The invention also relates to a method of treating a livestock footbath solution comprising rotating the addition to the solution of an alkali metal bisulfate and a material to treat a bacterial disease.

Abstract: A method of dissolving scale comprises contacting the scale with a solution of an alkali metal bisulfate. Another method of dissolving scale comprises contacting the scale with a solution of an alkali metal bisulfate and a strong mineral acid. A further method of dissolving scale comprises contacting the scale with a solution of an alkali metal bisulfate and an inorganic oxidizer.

Abstract: A method for providing an acidulant effect in a food. A food is prepared including alkali metal bisulfate in an amount effective to act as an acidulant. Moisture is added in an amount effective to dissolve the alkali metal bisulfate. In a preferred embodiment, a leavened baked good is prepared including a baking carbonate, and alkali metal bisulfate in an amount effective to react with the baking carbonate to release carbon dioxide to leaven the baked good. A food composition includes alkali metal bisulfate in an amount effective to act as an acidulant in the food, and moisture in an amount effective to dissolve the alkali metal bisulfate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a leavened baked good including alkali metal bisulfate and a substance capable of releasing gas upon reaction with the alkali metal bisulfate to leaven the baked good.

Abstract: A composition for providing an acidulant effect in a food. A food is prepared including sodium bisulfate in an amount effective to act as an acidulant. Moisture is added in an amount effective to dissolve the sodium bisulfate. In a preferred embodiment, a leavened baked good is prepared including a baking carbonate, and sodium bisulfate in an amount effective to react with the baking carbonate to release carbon dioxide to leaven the baked good. A food composition including sodium bisulfate in an amount effective to act as an acidulant in the food, and moisture in an amount effective to dissolve the sodium bisulfate.

Abstract: A method for preserving animal feed involves treating the animal feed with an inorganic acid having a pK.sub.a from 1.0 to 5.0 to reduce the pH of the animal feed to less than 4.5. Sodium bisulfate is a preferred inorganic acid. Preferably, the acid is substantially completely dissolved and is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the animal feed. In a preferred method, the animal feed is treated by mixing the animal feed with a dry acid and applying steam to the mixture. An animal feed composition contains a feed grain and an inorganic acid having a pK.sub.a from 1.0 to 5.0, where the acid is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the pH of the animal feed to less than 4.5.

Abstract: A method for treating equine manure involves contacting the manure with sodium bisulfate, preferably at a level of at least 50 grams per square meter of surface. The sodium bisulfate is preferably applied at least once per week. Another embodiment is a method for treating the manure with a material to reduce the pH of the manure, preferably to a pH less than 5. A related embodiment is a method for treating the manure with an acid to reduce the number of flies in the area around the manure, preferably to less than 25% of the number of flies in the same area without the treatment. Another embodiment is a method for treating the manure with a material to reduce the ammonia level in the air above the manure to less than about 2 parts per million.

Abstract: A foot liquid dispenser has a liquid reservoir on a base. A liquid sprayer on the base is connected to the reservoir and is mounted to discharge at a predetermined height above the base and in a predetermined direction. The sprayer is operated by a lever actuated by a bail pivoted on the base and having a small transverse bar projecting beyond the base and engageable by the user's foot. The bar is pivoted to travel from an upper position substantially above the spray then through the spray to a lower position substantially below the spray so the user's foot in depressing the bar is sprayed both bottom and top and excess liquid falls free of the dispenser.