High pressure processing for raw meat in combination with other treatments: A review

Abstract

High pressure processing (HPP) is a well-known technology for nonthermal pasteurization of food materials. High pressures above 100 MPa is proven to cause microbial destruction in food. It has been employed in the treatment of meat and meat products in several commercial industries. When considering raw meat preservation, increasing the pressure beyond 400 MPa results in significant quality degradation including color and textural changes. HPP in combination with other technologies help in achieving a reduction in pathogens below 1 log CFU/g of meat. This review analyzes the effect of HPP with salt, mild heat treatment, plant extracts, essential oils, and antimicrobials on the microbial safety of raw meat with a major focus on microbes such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Lactic Acid Bacteria. Quality changes (texture, color, and lipid oxidation) in the raw meat while achieving the required pathogen reduction using these methods are also discussed. The review helps in understanding how HPP in combination with other hurdle technologies can be used to provide microbiologically safe raw meat for different end-users. Novelty impact statement High pressure processing is a successful nonthermal processing technology that is employed in meat processing industries. Use of combination technologies with HPP had synergistic effect on reducing microbial load in raw meat. Investigation on applying multiple hurdles with HPP in a cost-effective way could help in the successful application of the technology for meat preservation.