Disposable air filter keeps perishables fresh for longer

A NEW air filter pad that prolongs the life of food and other perishable products in refrigerated containers and trucks is now available locally. Disposable and maintenance-free, the ERIS pad is an anti-microbial air filter used to eliminate airborne pathogens and ethylene gas, and according to Morgan Cargo, local agents for manufacturers Miatech, it increases food safety, removes odours and creates a clean environment in refrigerated containers and trucks during storage and transportation. In a recent field test, a filter pad was placed in the centre of a 40ft container transporting fresh produce from California to China. “Pre- and postshipment air samples were taken and the results showed a significant reduction in microbial count,” Morgan Cargo’s Elaine Evans told FTW. “It’s a fact that symptoms of postharvest diseases and decay-causing pathogens develop during storage and transportation,” said Evans. “The ERIS filter was developed to remove these stresses.”