A Food Protector Invented by an Israeli company Phresh Organics May Increase the shelf life of Fruits and Vegetables by Three Times
According to a report by UNEP and the World Resources Institute (WRI), about one-third of all food produced worldwide, worth around US$1 trillion, gets lost or wasted in food production and consumption systems. When this figure is converted to calories, this means that about 1 in 4 calories intended for consumption is never actually eaten.
In a world full of hunger, volatile food prices, and social unrest, these statistics are more than just shocking: they are environmentally, morally, and economically outrageous. Food waste is a global concern that affects us all. A growing population means we continue to struggle for food provision, and continual food waste leads to worsening global warming.
Each fruit or vegetable spoils for different reasons. Reactions to certain environments, the development of fungi, and encounters with bacteria all cause different responses from each type of produce, causing them to spoil at rates and moments inconsistent with one another.
A new product in development by an Israeli company located in China promises to increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables up to three times without any synthetic chemicals. It’s an organic and safe solution that prevents fruits and vegetables from spoiling at home!
The original Food Protectors come in red and gold (apple) and white (robot)
The Food Protector, made by Phresh Organics, may increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables up to three times without synthetic chemicals. Each Protector has a built-in LED light that changes color over time from green to red, reminding you when to change your powder.
How does it work?
Using the Food Protectors is as simple as one, two, three!
Images source: KickstarterPhresh Organics
Using the past 12 years of work in this regard, have created specialized powders that actively target the exact bacteria and fungi that cause spoilage in single fruits or vegetables with incredible precision usually attributed to the top chemical companies.
Use is very simple! You need to do is put a bag of this powder into one of the two small, specially designed powder holders – one shaped like a robot and another like an apple – and put the holder in the refrigerator drawer or bowl containing the produce. The powder slowly releases its active agents over time.
The Food Protector uses inexpensive microencapsulated essential oil, such as oregano, mustard oil, spearmint, and more to power it. The power generated from such a process is slowly released into the air, which creates conditions that safely protect ripeness in fruits and vegetables. The powder is green and is a great repellent of insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, and nematicides products. It is even edible!
The company, which is trying to finance production through the Kickstarter crowdfunding website, is based on research conducted by the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the University of Florida, as reported by Haaretz.
The company promises to improve the shelf life of the typical Israeli salad fixings (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and lemons) but it also protects eggplants, grapes, apples, potatoes, strawberries, and other fruits and vegetables. The holders and powder of the Food Protector will retail at around $30, based on the company’s Kickstarter page.
