New Natural Preservative Makes Fresh Food Last Years
Categories: News, Really?!?!? Flickr user angela larose So
researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered a
substance that a particular bacteria creates can be used to
treat food so it could sit on shelves for upwards of three
years.  Called bisin, it's made by Bifodobacterium longum, a
harmless bacteria in your gut right now. And when bisin is added
to food such as milk and sandwiches, it attacks "gram-negative
bacteria" such as E.coli, salmonella and listeria.  This allows
such foods to last much longer on the shelf, even
unrefrigerated. These scientists are so confident the product
will revolutionize the industry they've patented. But despite it
being a "natural" substance that doesn't "compromise nutrient
quality," it won't stop vegetables or fruit from rotting. That
kind of decomposition can't be helped by bisin. So in the
foreseeable future, there won't be any undead or immortal celery
or bananas . . . just 3-year-old milk that won't make