Chapter 8 - Implementation of emerging technologies

Abstract

Novel processing technologies have been gaining interest among food researchers due to their lower impact on the nutritional and sensory properties of the products compared to conventional thermal techniques. In this chapter, some of the most well-studied (e.g., high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, ohmic heating, microwave, and ultrasound) emerging technologies are briefly reviewed. Most of these technologies have found niche applications in the food industry, replacing or complementing conventional preservation technologies. Then, data on commercialization, energy, and microbial safety are presented and discussed with an ultimate goal to explore strategies for their implementation in the food industry. Novel thermal and nonthermal technologies have shown clear environmental benefits by improving the overall energy efficiency of the process and reducing the use of nonrenewable resources. Lastly, studies with specific examples of the implementation of these novel processing technologies in the food industry are described, focusing on the application of high-pressure processing and pulsed electric fields to orange juice, milk, and oysters. Higher implementation costs were observed for the emerging processing technologies compared to the conventional processing technologies, which can be explained by the fact that the industrial application of these novel technologies is still under development. In the future, the costs are expected to reduce with further technological advances and their increasing implementation in the industry.