Summary Report
At the one-and-one half year point, the project has gathered considerable momentum, and boasts a number of significant accomplishments. Click here for a Detailed Report.
Phase II - Research
PEF microbiological inactivation and electrode erosion studies have been concluded, evaluating kinetics of Lactobacillus plantarum in inoculated, as well as incubated apple cider . A PEF unit has been shipped to a processor in Oregon for further work. Studies on electrode erosion showed that titanium electrodes displayed the least erosion during PEF processing compared to platinum, stainless steel and boron carbide electrodes.
Search for a surrogate microorganism under High Pressure Processing (HPP) has progressed significantly. It was found that Lactobacillus fermentum was a superior alternative to L. plantarum, as a surrogate for Listeria monocytogenes, both in terms of pressure resistance and strain variability.
Ohmic Heating studies proceeded along five major lines, the formulation of a multiphase food to equal electrical conductivities of all phases, the determination of electrical conductivity of multiple phases of a food product, the determination of residence time distribution, the elimination of solids of unusual conductivity, and the modeling and sizing of the hold tube section. Major progress has been made. In particular, we have begun to characterize in great detail, the variability in electrical conductivity of individual components. We have determined, or are in process of determining, per FDA specifications, the electrical conductivity of 299 samples of each component. A sample formulation has been tested by the US Army Natick Soldier Center, and feedback has been provided relative to salt content of product. RFID is being investigated as a potential technique for residence time distribution determination. A device has been developed for detection of particles of unusual electrical conductivity, and finally, a model has been developed for electric field distribution within an ohmic heater.
Continuous Flow Microwave Processing studies have focused on development of polypropylene and polymethylpentene simulated thermo-sensitive implant and bioload carrier particles. Work has also focused on development of databases for product properties, and the modeling of electric field distributions in the IMS microwave processing system.
Studies on Microwave Sterilization of Packaged Foods have focused on dielectric property measurement for beef in gravy. A simulation model has shown that heating patterns for beef are similar to those for mashed potato. This is being used as a basis for further development. A number of products have been tested for sensory quality at the US Army Natick Soldier Center.
Phase III - Education
Coursework has been developed at Ohio State University for students, and a short course has been offered at UC Davis on April 4-5, 2005. Fact sheets are being developed for consumers as well as food processors. Consumer focus groups have been surveyed regarding their attitudes towards products processed by alternative technologies.
Phase IV. Evaluation
Specifically, our data indicates that all of the firms who have attended USDA/CAPPS reviews (n =12) are taking an active interest in these projects. Firms are spending a considerable about of time participating in USDA/CAPPS activities and communicating information to others within their firm: the average firm representative reports spending over 10 work days a year on these activities; about 40% report contacting others in their work group “often” or “very often” about USDA/CAPPS research. Finally, there is already some evidence of knowledge and technology transfer: members reported starting four research projects that were stimulated by the research they were monitoring; almost 60% of the firms indicated moderate or high impact on their R&D while 40% indicated a slight to moderate effect on commercialization efforts.
Students and Postdoctoral Researchers Supported by or Contributing to this Project
Ohio State University
Graduate Students
Joon Hee Lee
Minjung Kim
Raghupathy Ramaswamy
Sanjay Sarang
Priyank Tulsiyan
Joy Waite
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Soojin Jun
Dr. Tony Jin
Undergraduate Students
Ken Ayotte
North Carolina State University
Graduate Students
Pablo Coronel
Stephanie Drake
Aswini Kumar Singh Jasrotia
Prabhat Kumar
University of California, Davis
Graduate Students
Natnicha Bhumiratana
Washington State University
Graduate Students
Hao Chen
Nese Basran
Postdoctoral Researchers
Galina Mikhaylenko
Publications and Presentations Resulting From the Project
Bhumiratana, N. 2004 Consumer Attitudes toward Non-conventional Processing Technologies, MS Thesis. University of California, Davis.
Bruhn, C. 2004. Consumer Issues in Food Safety, Quality and New Technologies
Culinary Institute of America, UC Davis Program, Davis, CA
Bruhn, C. 2004. Enhancing Consumer Acceptance of New Food Technologies
2nd Innovative Food Centre Conference, Sydney, Australia.
Bruhn, C. 2004. Consumer Attitudes Toward Technological Innovation
National Restaurant Assoc. Quality Assurance Study Group, Denver, CO.
Coronel, P., Simunovic, J., and Sandeep, K.P. 2005. Determination of the feasibility of processing food materials using continuous flow tubular microwave heating by solving the penetration equation of microwave energy. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Jin, T., and Zhang, Q.H. 2005. Development of pilot scale fluid handling system with energy recovery for pulsed electric field processing. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Jin, T., Kim, M., Li, S., and Zhang, Q.H. 2005. Microbial inactivation efficiency of pilot scale fluid handling system with energy recovery for PEF process of apple cider. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Kim, M.J., and Zhang, Q.H. 2005. Improving electrode durability of PEF chambers. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Ramaswamy, R., Balasubramaniam, V.M., and Kaletunc, G. 2004. High pressure processing: Fact sheet for food processors. FSE-1-04. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet, Columbus, OH (http://ohioline.osu.edu/fse-fact/0001.html).
Ramaswamy, R., Jin, T., Balasubramaniam, V. M. and Zhang, Q.H. 2005. Pulsed electric field processing. Fact sheet for food processors. FSE 2-05. Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet, Columbus, OH (In press)
Sarang, S.S., Tulsiyan, P., and Sastry, S.K. 2005. Pretreatment for uniform ohmic heating of a multicomponent particulate-liquid food system. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Singh Jasrotia, A. K., T. K. Palazoglu, J. Simunovic, K. R. Swartzel, and K. P. Sandeep. 2004.Conservative process evaluation for multiphase aseptic processing: Design, fabrication and testing of implant-carrier simulated particles IFT 2004 Annual Meeting and Food Expo, Las Vegas, NV, July 12-16, 2004. Abstract 17H-9
Singh Jasrotia, A.K., Simunovic, J., Sandeep, K. P., Palazoglu, T.K., and Swartzel, K.R. 2005. Construction and Testing of Implant Carrier Particles for Validation of Multiphase Aseptic Processes. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Simunovic, J., and Swartzel, K.R. 2005. Integrated System for Conservative Process Establishment for Particles in Multiphase Aseptic Processing (Residence Time Distribution, Time-temperature History and Biovalidation). Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Simunovic J., Swartzel K.., Palazoglu T.K., Sandeep K.P. 2004. Multi-functional system for particle flow monitoring and validation of continuous thermal processing for multiphase aseptic products. 9th International Congress on Engineering and Food (ICEF’9). Montpellier, France March 7-11, 2004.
Simunovic, J. and Swartzel, K. R. 2004. Continuous Flow Microwave Sterilization: Feasibility Testing for Aseptic Products - From Dielectric Analyses to Shelf Life Studies. Aseptipak Europe 2004 Conference, Frankfurt, Germany Nov. 30 – Dec. 1. 2004).
Simunovic, J. 2004. Future for Aseptic Processing. Third International Conference on Thermal Processing - Thermal Processing of Convenience Foods, Chipping Campden, UK June 2004.
Swartzel, K.R., and Simunovic, J. 2005. Continuous Flow Microwave Sterilization: Feasibility Testing for Aseptic Products - From Dielectric Analyses to Shelf Life Studies. Abstract, submitted for 2005 IFT meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Swartzel, K. R. and Simunovic, J. 2004. Integrated System for Conservative Process Establishment for Particles in Multiphase Aseptic Processing. Aseptipak Europe 2004 Conference, Frankfurt, Germany Nov. 30 – Dec. 1. 2004).
Swartzel, K. R. and Simunovic, J. 2005. Validation of Continuous Aseptic Processes Including Particulate Foods. Institute of Thermal Processing Specialists 24th Annual Conference and Symposium February 22- 24, 2005 , Kissimmee, Florida.
Tang, J. 2004. Microwave sterilization technology. To FDA Acidified and Low Acid Team. Washington DC. Sept 20, 2004.