ABSTRACT
Food processing technology to date has made it possible for the U.S. to lead the way in providing the most nutritious, affordable, and safe food supply (Table 102.1). Despite these achievements, new challenges and issues continue to emerge and must be addressed to ensure that our food supply continues in this manner. For example, as the demand for convenient, nutritious, and healthful food products for both targeted groups and the general public continues to grow, of particular interest is the design and optimization of integrative processes that could be used to lead to effective food preservations and productions with enhanced food quality and improved safety (1). Moreover, the food industry is challenged to produce new products with longer
reminiscent of the fresh or native state of a given food. Therefore, the need for improved processing steps continues to grow with consumers’ demands for increased convenience and improved quality at an affordable cost.
