E-commerce, concern over food waste and consumer demand for fresh, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are spurring innovation in the food preservation market. On-the-go consumers are seeking healthy, fresh and RTE options in categories like meats, dairy and juices as an alternative to processed snacks found in the center grocery aisles. Meal kit delivery services provide more convenient ways to prepare meals at home. However, they also demand new, innovative means of delivering food from processors that provide meal ingredients.1
Developments in microwave-assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) are helping meet the demand for preservation methods that ensure food safety and quality while preserving flavor and texture. At the same time, retort and high-pressure processing (HPP) methods remain leading forms of food-preserving packaging. As food and beverage companies explore processing options, there are some important considerations to factor for each.