◎陳維真
A Texas company could have the answer to some consumers’ unwelcome discovery that just-purchased loaves contain mold.
麵包剛買就發霉，讓消費者不開心，一家德州公司或許有辦法解決。
MicroZap Inc. claims its technology allows bread to stay mold-free for 60 days. The bread is bombarded with microwaves for about 10 seconds, which kills the mold spores, said chief executive officer Don Stull said.
MicroZap公司聲稱握有技術可讓麵包60天不發霉。執行長斯特表示，麵包經過微波10秒後，就能殺光黴菌孢子。
The process could eliminate bakers’ need for preservatives and ingredients used to mask preservatives’ flavor, as well as reduce food waste and increase bread’s shelf life, he said.
斯特表示，這個過程或許可以讓麵包師傅不再需要防腐劑，或使用其他材料來掩蓋防腐劑的味道，也能減少食物浪費，延長麵包的保存期限。
Researchers at Texas Tech University also see using the technology in bread made in developing countries, where there are fewer food safety standards and spoilage is a problem.
德州科技大學的研究人員也認為可在開發中國家使用這項技術。開發中國家食物安全標準規範較少，食物腐爛是個問題。
After 60 days, researchers found the treated bread that remained packaged had the same mold content when compared to a freshly baked loaf, Stull said. In the end, though, he knows it comes down to consumers’ palates.
斯特表示，研究人員發現，經過60天後，放在包裝裡經過微波後的麵包，含有的黴菌數量與剛烤好的麵包相同。但他知道，最重要的還是消費者的味覺。
’’The consumers saw no discernible quality difference in the breads,’’ Stull said of testers who found the treated bread’s taste and texture unchanged. （AP）
「消費者認為麵包並沒有明顯差異。」斯特說，試驗員認為經過處理的麵包在味道與口感上並未改變。（美聯社）
新聞辭典
keep...at bay：片語，不使…接近，躲避。例句：I’m trying to keep my ex-boyfriends at bay.（我努力躲避前男友們。）
come down to：片語，追根究柢，最重要的還是……。例句：The problem comes down to money. （追根究柢，問題還是在錢。）
discernible：形容詞，可識別的。例句：The scandal had no discernible effect on his career. （醜聞對他的事業沒有明顯影響。）
文章出處 ：自由時報電子報中英對照新聞
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