Technology

SHELF-LIFE AFTER THAWING: NEW TECHNIQUES AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

05/08/2022

The pandemic and the supply chain disruptions that followed have highlighted how important it is for many consumer goods – particularly perishable foods – to be delivered intact and on time. At the same time, the attention paid by customers to food waste and food safety has risen to unprecedented levels. Innovative technologies are now helping the sector to extend the shelf-life of food products while improving food quality and safety.

Among them, high pressure processing (HPP) is still the most popular. HPP is a unique food preservation method that utilizes cold water and extreme pressure to inactivate foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms. Its effect on shelf-life extension depends on process and product parameters, therefore HPP effect on inactivation of the same microorganism can vary from product to product. Storage temperature after high pressure processing can also influence the shelf-life of the product: recent scientific studies demonstrate how HPP used in conjunction with freezing can prolong shelf-life up to three times in comparison to non-treated fresh products and guarantee a better food experience after thawing. As for the packaging to be used for HPP, this must have sufficient elasticity to transmit pressure and accommodate up to 19% volume reduction without losing seal integrity or barrier properties. For these reasons, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) works very well with HPP.

MAP is also used in a new, groundbreaking procedure which can help food processors and retailers extend the life and quality of their food products. It is called Freshline Superfresh and it is a new methodology which combines the best of cryogenic freezing and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technologies to effectively slow down the deterioration of frozen food after it has thawed. Using the Freshline Superfresh methodology, a frozen then thawed product offers comparable quality, appearance and shelf-life to a standard MAP chilled product, while also maintaining both taste and texture. Recent tests have even shown that, in some cases, food that has been subject to the Freshline Superfresh process has a longer shelf life when it reaches the shop floor, if compared to the use of traditional MAP techniques.

The advantage of preserving food products using this new process is that they can be stored and distributed in a frozen state, before being thawed on demand at the point of sale or by the end user.

share on:
About Alifood

About Alifood

We strongly believe that everything we plan and do should create value, for both our clients and suppliers. We do not see ourselves as mere food traders.

The sale of the products we select is just the last step of a complex, structured process that is based on strong business relationships and, in many cases, real partnerships. Our job is made of several functions: sourcing the right product, selecting a reliable producer, managing the entire logistics chain, providing all the necessary documentation and certifications and following up all the after-sale requirements besides consulting and tutoring on how to best use each single product. We do all this because we strongly believe that everything we plan and do should create value, for both our clients and suppliers. Our familiarity with the Italian food an agricultural industry, developed over the last twenty years, gives us the ability to efficiently deal with all the diverse needs pertaining to different markets.

Thanks to our experienced, professional and multilingual global working team, matching international demand and local supply is what we do best.

Efficient, customizable, fast

Discover our new e-shop for your supply of best quality Italian food

OUR SHOP