HIGH PRESSURE PRESERVATION

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INTRODUCTION High-pressure processing (HPP) is a “nonthermal” food preservation

technique that inactivates harmful pathogens and vegetative spoilage microorganisms by using pressure rather than heat to effect pasteurization.

Allowing most foods to be preserved with minimal effects on taste, texture, appearance, or nutritional value.

Pressure treatment can be used to process both liquid and high-moisture-content solid foods.( Aw=0.95)

For example, a grape can be easily crushed if pressure is applied to it by placing it between two fingers and squeezing along one axis. In contrast, if the grape is exposed to a uniform pressure by submerging it in water inside a sealed flexible bottle and squeezing, the grape retains its shape no matter how hard the

bottle is squeezed. In this case, the pressure transmitted from the bottle wall through the water is applied uniformly around the fruit.

Porous system will collapse ( eg strawberries are crushed by HPP) U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, UK, and

Germany, Australia, and Asia (Japan, China, and S. Korea) lead the commercialization of high pressure technology.

Cost is 0.5-2.5 Million $ ( equipment) and HPP treatment costs are quoted as ranging from 4–10 cents/lb ( equal to that of thermal processing)

PRINCIPLE.• Le Chatelier’s principle. Any phenomenon (phase transition, change in molecular Configuration, chemical reaction) accompanied by a decrease in volume is enhanced by pressure. Accordingly, pressure shifts the system to that of lowest volume.Isostatic principle: The principle of isostatic processingis presented in . The food products are compressed byuniform pressure from every direction and then returned totheir original shape when the pressure is released. The products are compressed independently of the product size andgeometry because transmission of pressure to the core is notmass/time dependant thus the process is minimized If a food product contains sufficient moisture, pressure willnot damage the product at the macroscopic levels as long as thepressure is applied uniformly in all directions

HIGH PRESSURE EQUIPMENT

COMPONENTS 1) Pressure vessel 2) High pressure intensifier pump 3) a system for controlling and monitoring the pressure 4) a product-handling system for transferring product to and from the

pressure vessel 5) Compressing medium like water, glycol solutions,silicone oil, sodium

benzoate solutions, ethanol solutions, inert gases .

A typical HPP process uses food products packaged in a high-barrier, flexible pouch or a plastic container. The packages are loaded into

the high-pressurechamber

The vessel is sealed and the vessel is filled with a pressure transmitting fluid (normally water).

Pressurized by the use of a high-pressure pump, which injects additional quantities of fluid. The packages of food, surrounded by the pressure-

transmitting fluid,are subjected to the same pressure as exists in the vessel itself.

After holding the product for the desired time at the target pressure, the vessel is decompressed by releasing the pressure-transmitting fluid.

Approximately 5–6 cycles/hr are possible, allowing time for compression, holding,

decompression, loading, and unloading.

After pressure treatment, the processed product is removed from the vessel and stored/distributed in a conventional manner.

Prodcuts Pressure( Mpa)( 1-5mins)

Shelf life( at 4 deg C)

Inhibits( pathogens and spoilage )

Advantage

Meat and meat products( sliced, marinated,whole) 31%

500-600 More than 90 days( 45 days without HPP)

Listeria , Salmonella , E.coli, moulds , yeast etc.

Effective in eliminating pathogenic micro-organisms.

Dairy products ( milk , cheese)6%

400-600 3-10 times Yeast , moulds, E.coli etc.

No impact on sensory, nutritional and functional properties

Sea food ( Molluska,ready to eat ) 16%

350 - 400 2 times Salmonella, Vibrio, Anisakis etc

Shucking and meat extraction

Fruits and Vegetables( juices , sauces,onions ) 47%

400-600 3-10 times Spoiling microbes ( yeast etc)And pathogens.

Healthier food rich in vitamins,minerals etc

MICROBIAL EFFICACY Inactivates most vegetative pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms at

pressures above 200 Mpa at RT. causes damage to cell membranes and denatures some intracellular

proteins leading to cell death. Reduced pH is generally synergistic with pressure in eliminating

microorganisms. The process can also sub-lethally stress or injure bacteria. Bacterial spores >gram positive > gram negative > moulds, yeast

(pressure resistant) Inactivation of key enzymes, including those involved in DNA

replication and transcription is also mentioned as a possible inactivating mechanism.

USES Increased product shelf life - even for food which is sensitive to

heat Low-temperature preservation method: no loss in product quality

compared to heat pasteurization. Enhanced food safety due to inactivation of spoilage organisms and

relevant food borne pathogens Processing in final consumer packaging is possible, free preservation

of food by using only pressure Production of “natural”, safe value-added food with a superior quality Homogenous effect of HPP: Results are independent of product size

and geometry Further benefits like large yield increase compared to traditional

processes (e.g. extraction of lobster meat from the shell) Waste-free and environmentally friendly, sustainable technology – only

water and electricity are needed