Grocery Store Produce Germ Eliminator
Location
United States
Team Name:
Lego Bistro
Team Number:
2925
Team Description:
Lego Bistro is a team of 10 kids ages 9 to 13 from six families, based in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. We are a rookie team--none of our members have been part of an FLL team before, and this year has been life changing! We have a passion for building and programming robots, and found a new interest in inventing. We have not only learned a ton about food safety and robotics, we have also learned what it means to be a team, how it feels to reach our goals, and how to connect with other people in order to find willing sponsors, mentors, and friends in our community who can contribute to our success. These contributors have not only helped with the team project, team building activities, and robotics, but in being real role models for teaching us to build up our community, too. We couldn't have made it a successful year without this help, and we are grateful for the experience!
Team Location:
Herriman Utah 84096
United StatesCategory:
Transportation/Distribution
Brief Submission Description:
You've bought produce from a grocery store before, and so Lego Bistro's idea can help you! Our idea is a simple in-line pump at the wet rack of grocery stores that sprays produce with a solution that will reduce or eliminate surface bacteria.
All fresh produce carries at least a trace of bacteria. Listeria is an especially nasty kind of bacteria because it continues to grow in cold temperatures, and it can cause severe illness, even death. It can be killed at high temps, but fresh produce is commonly eaten raw. The solution we propose has potential to kill many surface contaminates, including Listeria. The solution disperses over time and our experiments showed that it leaves produce with no residual odor or taste, and actually HELPS THE PRODUCE STAY FRESH LONGER!
This idea is not limited to grocery stores. It could be applied at all distribution points between the farm and the consumer, and has the potential to affordably impact the quality of food for millions of people.
Team Website
http://legobistro.blogspot.com
