The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given the nod to a South African technology that uses ultraviolet light to treat fruit juice, website Mg.co.za reported.

SurePure marketing executive Steve Miller said the company's technology was a more sustainable form of liquid purification, as it used light instead of heat treatment processes like pasteurization, the story reported.

"(It) is an approved technology alternative to pasteurisation to remove, reduce or inactivate pathogenic organisms that might prove harmful to humans if ingested," Miller was quoted as saying.

"When consumers start to understand how much preservatives are in the juices they feed their kids or how little nutrient value is left after the ultra-high levels of heat their juice has been subjected to, some brands are going to suffer.

"Major benefits for manufacturers utilising photo-purification technology include less chemical intervention with complete food safety resulting in a healthier, tastier, safe juice."

He said the technology was already used in wine, sugar syrup and milk treatment, the story reported.

Photo: SurePure

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