Is ethylene oxide used in spices?

Ethylene Oxide (EtO) is an EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticide used to sterilize medical equipment and spices.

How do you sterilize spices?

The very short contact (20-40 seconds) with high pressure steam at a temperature that may vary between 102°C and 122°C makes it possible to decontaminate heat sensitive herbs, powder and spices without adverse effect on quality. Suitable for spices, herbs, botanicals, seeds, whole products and ground products.

What is EtO sterilization for spices?

Ethylene oxide gas (EtO) is widely used to sterilize materials and products that would be damaged by methods involving heat, moisture or radiation. Depending on industry standards, EtO can be used to reduce or inactivate the microbial population of a product or material.

What can you sterilize with ethylene oxide?

Ethylene oxide sterilizers are used to sterilize heat- and moisture- sensitive devices that would be damaged by pure steam or liquid chemical sterilization, including most plastic or rubber products (e.g., catheters, resuscitation bags, anesthesia masks, most fiberoptic instruments), as well as non-heat-sensitive …

Is ethylene oxide toxic to humans?

Chronic (long-term) exposure to ethylene oxide in humans can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, and damage to the brain and nervous system. There also is some evidence linking ethylene oxide exposure to reproductive effects.

Is ethylene oxide allowed in food in USA?

While ethylene oxide is used to combat fungi and bacteria in a number of countries outside the EU, it is banned in EU food production. Residues in food violate European food law.

What is the difference between sterilization and pasteurization?

Sterilization is intended to destroy all germs and particularly pathogenic bacteria in their vegetative and sporulated form. The moderate heat treatment of pasteurization allows the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms present in their vegetative form, and a large number of spoilage microorganisms.

How do you sterilize dried herbs?

Treatment with ethylene oxide involves placing the dried herb in an airtight chamber, introducing ethylene oxide gas, heating the chamber to about 180°F for several hours, evacuating the gas and allowing the herbs to de-gas for another 24 hours.

How do you sterilize spices at home?

What is ethylene oxide used for in food?

Ethylene oxide is used in the dried fruit industry to stop microbial spoilage in prunes and, presumably, these treatments are also insecticidal. Ethylene oxide has been used for over 40 years for both insecticidal treatments and for the sterilization of foodstuffs.

Is it safe to sterilize using ethylene oxide?

Although initially the levels were very high, storage for four days at room temperature reduced them to a safe level. If adequate controls of the sterilising process and storage are carried out, sterilisation by ethylene oxide is considered to be safe for new plastics and clean equipment.

Do hospitals use ethylene oxide?

Ethylene oxide (EtO) gas sterilizers have been used by hospitals for over 40 years to sterilize surgical equipment and supplies that are heat sensitive or that cannot tolerate excessive moisture.

What are the parameters for ethylene oxide sterilization?

Ethylene Oxide “Gas” Sterilization. ETO is a colorless gas that is flammable and explosive. The four essential parameters (operational ranges) are: gas concentration (450 to 1200 mg/l); temperature (37 to 63°C); relative humidity (40 to 80%)(water molecules carry ETO to reactive sites); and exposure time (1 to 6 hours).

What happens when ethylene oxide is added to spices?

At any refrigerated temperature, if there’s ethylene oxide present, it’s not going to evaporate. It will be a solid, in the form of a liquid similar to water. Yes, jars of spices have airtight seals, but at least they’re processed and packaged at room temperature.

What kind of spices are in ETO treated spices?

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What are the steps in the ETO sterilization process?

The basic ETO sterilization cycle consists of five stages (i.e., preconditioning and humidification, gas introduction, exposure, evacuation, and air washes) and takes approximately 2 1/2 hrs excluding aeration time.