In an effort to combat the rapid spoilage of fruits and vegetables, an Israeli company, Liva, headquartered in Ness Ziona, has innovated a sticker that promises to prolong the freshness of produce. This technology, devised without altering the produce itself, employs a prebiotic formula that encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria, bacillus subtilis, effectively delaying the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Ifat Hammer, the co-founder and CTO of Liva, utilized her background in food engineering and biotechnology to develop this solution. The sticker, slightly larger than a postage stamp, comprises four layers and is applied directly to the packaging of fruits and vegetables, extending their freshness by up to seven days.
The beneficial bacteria targeted by the sticker's prebiotic formula are naturally occurring in the environment and are known for their non-pathogenic nature. According to Ifat Peled Dinstag, co-founder and CEO, the sticker acts as a feeding station for bacillus subtilis, promoting its growth and enabling it to outcompete harmful bacteria. While this method does not eliminate the harmful bacteria, it significantly slows their growth, visibly extending the produce's shelf life compared to untreated control groups.
Source: nocamels.com