Case Study: The Use of LowOxygen, ECO2 ControlledAtmosphere Method to Control Insects in Sesame Seed and Dried Figs from Greece

摘要

The international industry is under high pressure to seek a preventive method to control insects in food commodities that does not lead to any quality reduction of the products. Especially the organic food industry is seeking an effective method that does not leave chemical residues. The ECO2 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) treatment is known and used worldwide by many companies and is a very effective method to control insects in all stages of development in food commodities,without using toxic chemicals and negative effect on the quality of the products. CA is currently used to control insects in sesame seed from Greece. Both conventional as well as organic sesame seed is treated with CA. The CA method used is based on low oxygen in combination with increased temperatures (e. g. 35 Celsius). To prove and document the effectiveness of this method, an experiment was conducted by controlling Tribolium and Sitophilus (Greek origin) in Sesame Seed and Dried Figs.