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Bay Area Chemists Win Technology Transfer Honor

ALBANY, Calif., Feb. 14—Edible films that keep sliced fruits attractive and flavorful have won a national research honor for a team of San Francisco Bay Area chemists. Dominic W.S. Wong of the Agricultural Research Service's Western Regional Research Center in Albany, and retired ARS colleagues Attilla E. Pavlath and Wayne M. Camirand, have received a technology transfer award from the agency's Office of Technology Transfer. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research branch.

The scientists, and other award winners, were acknowledged at a ceremony yesterday in Beltsville, Md. Wong, of El Cerrito, Calif., is with the Bioproduct Chemistry and Engineering Research Unit. Retiree Pavlath lives in Walnut Creek. Retiree Camirand is a resident of Albany.

"The calcium-based film that these California researchers developed as a novel coating for fresh-cut produce is being used today for sliced apples," said ARS Acting Administrator Edward B. Knipling. "The coating is also ideal for preserving the taste, texture and color of cut pears and other produce. This technology helps make it easy and convenient for consumers to get more daily servings of these healthful fruits as a handy snack.

"In an entirely different application of edible films," Knipling added," the scientists showed that similar films could help milking cows stay healthy. This commercial product, applied to a cow's udder between milkings, protects against the microbes that cause mastitis. An infection of the milk duct, mastitis is a costly disease that has to be treated with antibiotics," he said.

The scientists have patented and licensed both technologies.