Ozone contribution in food industry in Japan

Ozone has the strongest oxidization effect after fluorine, and this property has been used in sterilization for food and processing plants in Japan. Moreover, there is no fear of toxic residues as with chlorine-based sterilizers and no hazardous trihalomethanes are formed. Based on these advantages, ozone has been used in water and air treatment for food products food materials and food processing plants. Use in the food processing is now increasing in Japan. This paper describes ozone sterilization, introducing sterilization systems and equipment applied to food in Japan.