Mantrose-Haeuser Co., Inc., a world leader in edible coatings and the developer of NatureSeal for apples, announced it will extend its technology to potatoes.
The Westport, CT, company will make available to food processors the opportunity to pre-slice and packages potatoes, celery, carrots and bananas.
This is the first time produce processors will have the technology to pre-slice and package such fragile produce as potatoes with an extended shelf life of up to three weeks without the use of sulfites.
With the advent of these new sulfite-free formulations, food processors nationwide will have the ability to pre-slice and package a wide variety of hard-to-keep fresh-cut produce, with no discoloration, while maintaining texture, flavor and freshness.
With the technology now available to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut produce, NatureSeal will have a major impact on the current $10 to $12 billion fresh-cut produce industry.
Since the development and introduction of NatureSeal for apples early in 2001, scientists and researchers at Mantrose-Haeuser have been studying and testing blends of FDA-approved, Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) ingredients to prolong the shelf life of hard-to-keep fresh produce for between seven and 21 days.
The process inhibits enzymatic discoloration and maintains texture, flavor and fresh appearance. In addition, formulations are sulfite-free, GMO-free, allergen-free, Kosher and, perhaps most importantly to food processors, require no special MAP.