Friday, July 20, 2018

Oh, patents! Freshpaper

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

How do you preserve or extend the freshness of perishable goods? 1.6 billion people do not have refrigeration in the world. 25% of edible substances and foods are estimated to spoil at various points during growth and ripening, transportation, packaging, on the shelf and in storage.

The Freshpaper invention precisely addresses the issue of preserving and/or extending food freshness, while bypassing the potential toxicity of the state of the art in chemical options. Chemical options, such as coatings, sprays and washes of various sorts, which are used as preservatives, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides or antibacterial agents to prevent or delay the onset of spoilage.

The Freshpaper invention is recited in US6372220 (B1), titled Fenugreek impregnated material for the preservation of perishable substances. The invention comprises paper that is infused with botanical extracts known for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, preservative or curative properties. In particular, Freshpaper is coated with a Fenugreek seed extract botanical (trigonella foenum-graecum). A botanical that has antifungal and antibacterial properties, known to prevent the proliferation of pathogens.

Freshpaper is packaged in sheets and sold in supermarkets. The sheets are active for one month. They may be inserted in fridge drawers, in fruit cartons or salad bags. For the c
onsumer, Freshpaper has the advantage of being a nontoxic and safe preservation method for perishable goods. For manufacturers, Freshpaper is much easier to produce than its chemical counterparts.

The abstract of the invention is included below, together with an invention figure drawing showing the sheet in contact with a strawberry. The image of a package of Freshpaper for use with fruits is included above. 
Fig. 2: US6372220
The present invention to a material that is coated with or soaked in a suspension of a botanical extract such that particles of said natural botanical extract are in contact with, embedded on, or embedded within the material. The present invention can be used to preserve perishable substances such as edible substances or foods by extending their freshness, shelf life or suitability for consumption by living organisms. Botanical extracts suitable for the present invention include botanical extracts that have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral or other preventative or curative properties. The botanical extract coated material described in the present invention is suitable for applications such as the packaging and preservation of perishable substances such as fruits and vegetables, meat products, dairy products, edible substances, non-edible substances and other perishable substances. Specifically, the material is impregnated with an extract of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). [Abstract US6372220]
In 2016, the inventor; Kavita Shukla was listed in Time Magazine as one of the Five most innovative Women in Food and Drink. In 2018, Shukla was also nominated one of Toyota's Mothers of Invention

Reference
Freshglow Co. 
https://www.fenugreen.com/freshpaper
Kavita Sukla (inventor website)
/https://www.kavitashukla.com/
Oaklander, M. (Sept. 14, 2016) The five most innovative women in food and drink - Time Magazine. 
http://time.com/4489266/food-drink-women-innovators/
2018 - Toyota's MOI (Mothers of Invention)
https://www.toyota.com/usa/toyota-effect/mothers-of-invention-7.html

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