A METHOD OF STERILIZING A PACKAGING MATERIAL BY MEANS OF A STERILIZATION AGENT CONTAINING HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

摘要

A method of sterilizing a packaging material for, for example, a ready-to-fill package (20) with extended shelf-life for a food, in which method a sterilization agent containing hydrogen peroxide is brought into contact with the packaging material (20) in order to remove microorganisms present on the packaging material (20). After the contact with the sterilization agent, the packaging material (20) is ventilated with air so as to remove remaining residues of hydrogen peroxide on and/or in the packaging material (20), The removal of the remaining residues of hydrogen peroxide is improved synergistically if the packaging material (20), after contact with the sterilization agent but before ventilation, is exposed to accelerated electrons at a kinetic energy of at least 50 keV.