Application of innovative technologies to produce activated safe ice

Ice refrigeration is one of the most widely used methods for food preservation with the use of a low temperature to delay the growth of any microbial contaminants. The production of safe edible ice with antimicrobial properties is of importance to food safety and human health, and has attracted increasing interest in recent years. This manuscript summarizes the advancements of the recent technologies to produce activated ice containing bactericidal agents, which can be potentially applied for the microbial decontamination and freshness retention of raw foods, such as fresh vegetables, seafood and fisheries. Cold atmospheric plasma and acidic electrolysis of water are two technologies that have been recently proposed for the treatment of water that is intended for the production of safe ice. Additionally, the application of ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UVC-LED) irradiation for the efficient disinfection of the edible ice is also discussed.