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 agricultural treatment method involves applying alkali metal bisulfate to modify surface pH on growing plants, or on seeds before planting, in an agricultural area. In certain aspects, the method involves applying an aqueous composition including the alkali metal bisulfate to the plants or seeds. The alkali metal bisulfate may be sodium bisulfate. An aqueous composition includes an alkali metal bisulfate in an amount from 0.1% to 5% by weight. The composition also includes a second material selected from stickers, antimicrobial agents, chelating agents, surfactants, or combinations thereof. Water makes up the final composition.

Abstract: An agricultural treatment method involves applying alkali metal bisulfate to modify surface pH on growing plants, or on seeds before planting, in an agricultural area. In certain aspects, the method involves applying an aqueous composition including the alkali metal bisulfate to the plants or seeds. The alkali metal bisulfate may be sodium bisulfate. An aqueous composition includes an alkali metal bisulfate in an amount from 0.1% to 5% by weight. The composition also includes a second material selected from stickers, antimicrobial agents, chelating agents, surfactants, or combinations thereof. Water makes up the final composition.

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: A method of improving a feed conversion ratio in poultry includes feeding to the poultry a poultry feed including an amount of an inorganic acid which is effective to improve the feed conversion ratio. A method of controlling microorganisms in poultry includes feeding to the poultry a poultry feed including an amount of an inorganic acid which is effective to control microorganisms in the poultry. A method of decreasing ammonia released from poultry manure includes feeding to the poultry a poultry feed including an amount of an inorganic acid which is effective to decrease the amount of ammonia released from the poultry manure.

Abstract: An ingestible composition includes an artificial sweetener and an alkali metal bisulfate. A method of masking an aftertaste of an artificial sweetener in an ingestible composition, comprises adding to the composition an alkali metal bisulfate. An artificial sweetener composition comprises an artificial sweetener and an alkali metal bisulfate.