How do you go grocery shopping? Do you plan specific meals for the week, develop a list of ingredients, and only buy those things at the store? Do you examine the sales ads to discover the best deal and then plan the menu around those? Maybe you wander through the aisles until something catches your attention.
Whether you are a family dinner enthusiast, a vegan, or a gourmet sous-chef, you want food that don’t only taste great but is safe to eat as well. The quality of food is a point of concern for everyone, especially as the amount of large recalls in the food industry has risen in recent years. While some recalls may be made to be extra careful, today’s consumers expect more safety from the food we purchase.
Food producers are answering these demands, especially the worries about food security and the possibilities of foodborne diseases. Many are installing new technologies to meet strict rules of safety, quality, and preservation programs. These devices involve high-pressure processing, ultrasound equipment, pulsed electric fields, ultraviolet light, and irradiation with ionizing radiation. These tools can eradicate germs and other microorganisms and assist in extending shelf life without including additional preservatives. For more information about these technologies, check out the accompanying resource.