Premium
Unlocking Potentials of Microwaves for Food Safety and Quality
Author(s) -
Tang Juming
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/1750-3841.12959
Subject(s) - pasteurization , microwave heating , microwave , sterilization (economics) , process engineering , computer science , food safety , systems engineering , risk analysis (engineering) , biochemical engineering , nanotechnology , manufacturing engineering , engineering , telecommunications , business , materials science , food science , chemistry , finance , exchange rate , foreign exchange market
Microwave is an effective means to deliver energy to food through polymeric package materials, offering potential for developing short‐time in‐package sterilization and pasteurization processes. The complex physics related to microwave propagation and microwave heating require special attention to the design of process systems and development of thermal processes in compliance with regulatory requirements for food safety. This article describes the basic microwave properties relevant to heating uniformity and system design, and provides a historical overview on the development of microwave‐assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) and pasteurization systems in research laboratories and used in food plants. It presents recent activities on the development of 915 MHz single‐mode MATS technology, the procedures leading to regulatory acceptance, and sensory results of the processed products. The article discusses needs for further efforts to bridge remaining knowledge gaps and facilitate transfer of academic research to industrial implementation.