While introducing the principles and processes of industrial-level food canning, the volume clarifies the effects of microorganisms, their ecology, fate, and prevention in canning operations, as well as in other thermal processing techniques, such as aseptic packaging. It covers microbial spoilage and detection for vegetables, fruits, milk, meat and seafood from the raw food materials through individual unit operations, facility sanitation, and packaging. It thus offers a practical introduction to understanding, preventing and destroying microbe-based hazards in food plants that use thermal processes to preserve and package foods. The text surveys major spoilage and pathogenic microbes of interest, explaining their toxicity, product and safety effects, and the conditions of their destruction by heat treatment.

ESSENTIALS OF THERMAL PROCESSING Explore this fully updated new edition of a practical reference on food preservation from two leading voices in the industry Among all food preservation methods in use today, thermal processing remains the single most important technique used in the industry. The newly revised Second Edition of Essentials of Thermal Processing delivers a thorough reference on the science and applications of the thermal processing of a wide variety of food products. The book offers readers essential information on the preservation of food products by heat, including high-acid foods and low-acid sterilized foods requiring a full botulinum cook. The accomplished authors—noted experts in their field—discuss all relevant manufacturing steps, from raw material microbiology through the various processing regimes, validation methods, packaging, incubation testing, and spoilage incidents. Two new chapters on temperature and heat distribution, as well as heat penetration of foods, are included. More worked and practical examples are found throughout the book as well. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the microbiology of heat processed foods, food preservation techniques, low acid canned foods, and high acid foods An exploration of acidified products, heat extended shelf-life chilled foods, and processing methods Discussions of cooking and process optimization, process validation, and heat penetration and process calculations An examination of cooling and water treatment, how to handle process deviations, and packaging options for heat preserved foods Perfect for professionals working in the food processing and preservation industries, Essentials of Thermal Processing will also earn a place in the libraries of anyone seeking a one-stop reference on the subject of thermal processing for food products.

This Brief describes the chemical features of canned food products and gives background information on the technology of canning foods. It explains how canned foods are different from other packaged foods, and illustrates and discusses their unique properties, including risks and failures. Canned foods are usually considered to offer a particularly long shelf-life and durability. An understanding of their properties and influences on their durability is therefore of great importance in the industrial production, and this Brief offers a compact introduction to this topic. The authors focus on thermally-preserved foods. They explain that the right choice of thermal treatment method (e.g. pasteurisation, sterilisation) as well as process parameters (e.g. time, temperature) is additionally influenced by criteria such as pH, water content, the presence and concentration of fatty molecules, of calcium, etc. So-called ‘survival curves’ can help in determining the methodology of choice, and the Brief introduces the reader to this concept. The authors also address defects and failures. They introduce selected indicators, which can help identifying failures of the entire food/packaging system, and demonstrate how image and visual analysis can be applied in quality controls. The explanations and industrial production of canned foods are exemplified with the case of canned tomato sauces and beans.

Advances in Thermal and Non-Thermal Food Preservation provides current, definitive and factual material written by experts on different thermal and non-thermal food preservation technologies. Emphasizing inactivation of microorganisms through the application of traditional as well as newer and novel techniques and their combinations, the book’s chapters cover: thermal food preservation techniques (e.g., retorting, UHT and aseptic processing), minimal thermal processing (e.g., sous-vide processing), and non-thermal food preservation techniques (e.g., high pressure processing and pulsed technologies). Editors Tewari and Juneja give special emphasis to the commercial aspects of non-conventional food preservation techniques. As the most comprehensive and contemporary resource of its kind, Advances in Thermal and Non-Thermal Food Preservation is the definitive standard in describing the inactivation of microorganisms through conventional and newer, more novel techniques.

Contents - 1. Bacteria - Form; Structure; Chemical composition; Physiology; Classification - 2. True fungi - Moulds; Yeasts; Morphology; Principal groups; Biological characteristics - 3. Control of spoilage micro-organisms - Refrigeration; Gas storage; Moisture limitation; Salt; Acid preservatives; Curing; Smoking; Spices; Antibiotics; Fermentation; Air filtration - 4. Containers - Three piece cans; Tinplate; Tin-free steel; Construction of cans; Non-soldered cans; Two piece cans; Easy-open ends; Semi-rigid and flexible packs; Glass containers and closures - 5. Outline of canning operations - Preparation of food; Washing; Peeling; Blanching; Filling; Exhausting; Sealing of containers; Processing; Types of retort; Non-rigid containers; Glass containers; Cooling; Coding - 6. Sources and control of contamination - Raw materials; Plant; Cleaning and disinfection; Containers; Cooling water - 7. Principal spoilage organisms in canned foods - Acidity classification of foods; Low and medium acid products; Acid products - 8. Effects of heat on micro-organisms - Cause of death; Mechanism of heat resistance; Order of destruction; Factors affecting heat resistance; Effect of environment during sporulation; Effect of environment during heating; Effect of recovery medium; Effect of sub-lethal heat treatment; Estimation of heat resistance; Treatment of thermal resistance data - 9. Principles of thermal processing - Thermal death-time data; Standards of processing; Heat penetration; Mechanism of heat transfer; Positioning of thermocouple; Factors affecting heat penetration; Process evaluation; Classical calculation methods; Integrated lethality methods; Microbiological methods - 10. Continuous flow sterilisation and aseptic processing - Nutritional and quality aspects; HTST and UHT processing; Process evaluation; Cooling; Container sterilisation; Filling; Enzyme inactivation and regeneration - 11. The use of radiations in food preservation - Ionising radiations; Factors affecting the radiation resistance of micro-organisms; Sterilisation doses for foods; Complementary effects of radiation and heat; Low dose procedures; Effects of ionising radiations on food; Ultraviolet irradiation - 12. Types of spoilage - Under-processing; Inadequate cooling; Leakage through seams; Pre-process spoilage; Hydrogen swells; Incorrect retort operation; Under-exhausting; Over-filling; Panelling; Rust; Damage - 13. Microbiology of sound canned foods - 'Commercial sterility'; Results of examinations; Theory of fat protection; Air-borne contamination; Canned cured meats; Proposed standards - 14. Bacterial food poisoning - Clostridium botulinum; Clostridium perfringens; Salmonella; Staphylococci-Bacillus cereus; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Relation of food-poisoning to canned foods; Food idiosyncrasy - 15. Laboratory examination of canned foods - Culture media for routine work; Additional media for routine and special purposes; Outline of examination procedure; Preliminary external examination; Preliminary incubation of samples; Sampling can contents; Technique for sampling swelled cans; Preparation of cultures; Examination of contents; Examination of glass packs; Incubation tests; Aseptic packaging; Examination of canned cured meats - 16. Examination of raw materials, plant and miscellaneous methods - Thermophilic contamination of sugar, starches, milk, powder, spices, etc.; Plant and equipment; Containers; Cooling water; Dilution cultures - 17. Examination of containers - Selection of cans; Preliminary examination; Examination of rolled seams; Defective soldering; Oval and rectangular cans; Flexible pouches - Appendix - Temperature of saturated steam; Sizes of some common round UK open-top cans; Example of calculation of process lethalities; Lethal rates; Summary of causes and control of microbial spoilage of canned food - Index -

This book covers application of food microbiology principles into food preservation and processing. Main aspects of the food preservation techniques, alternative food preservation techniques, role of microorganisms in food processing and their positive and negative features are covered. Features subjects on mechanism of antimicrobial action of heat, thermal process, mechanisms for microbial control by low temperature, mechanism of food preservation, control of microorganisms and mycotoxin formation by reducing water activity, food preservation by additives and biocontrol, food preservation by modified atmosphere, alternative food processing techniques, and traditional fermented products processing. The book is designed for students in food engineering, health science, food science, agricultural engineering, food technology, nutrition and dietetic, biological sciences and biotechnology fields. It will also be valuable to researchers, teachers and practising food microbiologists as well as anyone interested in different branches of food.