This book addresses the shelf life of foods, a key factor in determining how food is distributed and consequently where and when different food products are available for consumption. Shelf life is determined by several factors, including microbiological, chemical, physical, and organoleptic deterioration. Often these factors are interrelated and interdependent. The editors of this volume focus specifically on the microbial factors related to shelf life of perishable foods and food commodities. This allows for more detailed coverage of foodborne bacterial pathogens and spoilage microorganisms of concern. The initial part of the book covers the why and how of shelf life determination as well as the specific microbial pathogens and spoilage microorganisms of concern for perishable foods. Contributors address topics such as the techniques utilized for determination of shelf life, the frequency of shelf life testing for different products, the interpretation of data to make shelf life determinations, and management of shelf life of food products from the perspective of the food producer, distributor, retailer, and regulator. Three key areas impacting shelf life are addressed in detail: sanitation, processing, and packaging. The sanitation chapter explains the necessary components of cleaning and sanitizing to assure a hygienic processing environment and why that is critical to shelf life control. Traditional processing procedures are reviewed and advanced processing technologies are explored. Materials used in food packaging and the utilization of traditional and activated food packaging by product type are covered in detail. The latter two chapters of the book delve into newer techniques of analysis and explore the microbiome of food products. Implications of microbial ecology and microbial quantification in food products are discussed in chapters on genomics and in the changing dogma of meat shelf life. The primary audience for this work includes food industry quality and food safety technicians, managers, directors, and executives responsible for shelf life. Academicians and governmental researchers involved in research and teaching about food safety and quality will also find the material relevant and useful.

The quality and safety of the food we eat deserves the utmost attention and is a priority for producers and consumers alike. Shelf life studies provide important information to manufacturers and consumers to ensure a high-quality food product. Various evaluation methods are used for shelf life determination and they are usually performed at the manufacturer level. Moreover, various techniques are utilized throughout the food chain that enhance the shelf life of food products. This sensitive issue is reviewed in Shelf Life and Food Safety, which brings together a group of subject experts to present up-to-date and objective discussions on a broad range of topics including food spoilage and safe preservation, packaging, and sensory aspects. The book presents both traditional and innovative technologies for enhancing food safety and increasing shelf life, along with methods for the assessment and prediction of food safety and shelf life. Key Features Overviews the issues associated with shelf life enhancement and shelf life evaluation of various food products Addresses issues important to maintaining food safety Explains how shelf life depends on factors, including ingredients for formulation, processing techniques, packaging, and storage conditions Covers shelf life evaluation methods, determinants for shelf life, food quality assessment, and basic and innovative technologies that will improve the shelf life of food products This book is the first of its kind focusing on issues related to evaluation techniques for shelf life determinants, and techniques for shelf life enhancement. It is appropriate for students, researchers, scientists, and professionals in food science and technology. It is also a helpful source of information for people involved in the food industry, food processing sector, product development, marketing, and other associated fields.

Shelf life, a term recognised in EU/UK food legislation, may be defined as the period of time for which a food product will remain safe and fit for use, provided that it is kept in defined storage conditions. During this period, the product should retain its desired sensory, chemical, physical, functional and microbiological characteristics, as well as accurately comply with any nutritional information printed on the label. Shelf life therefore refers to a number of different aspects; each food product has a microbiological shelf life, a chemical shelf life, and a sensory (or organoleptic) shelf life. These categories reflect the different ways in which a food product will deteriorate over time. Ultimately the shelf life of a food product is intended to reflect the overall effect of these different aspects. Shelf life has always been an important facet of industrial food preparation and production, as food and drink are often produced in one area and then distributed to other areas for retailing and consumption. Globalised distribution and supply chains make it imperative that food should survive the transit between producer and consumer – as a perishable commodity, food carries a high risk of spoilage. As such, a realistic, workable and reproducible shelf life has to be determined every time a new food product is developed and marketed; shelf life determination of food has become an integral part of food safety, quality assurance, product development, marketing, and consumer behaviour. Dominic Mans Shelf Life, now in a revised and updated second edition, encompasses the core considerations about shelf life. Section 1 introduces shelf life, describes its relationship to food safety, and provides answers to the frequently asked questions around shelf life determination and testing which are a managers chief concerns. Section 2 covers the science of the various ways in which food deteriorates and spoils, including the physical, chemical and microbiological changes. Section 3 looks at shelf life in practice, using case studies of different products to illustrate how shelf life may be determined in real life settings. This book will be invaluable to both practitioners and students in need of a succinct and comprehensive overview of shelf life concerns and topics.

The best-selling first edition of this contributed book established itself as a highly practical and authoritative source of information on shelf-life evaluation. Every food manufacturer is concerned about shelf life, as are the major retailers and ingredient suppliers. Increasing consumer interest in food safety, quality and date marking, competitive pressures from retailers and extensive legislative changes have combined to give this subject new significance. A proper evaluation of shelf life must be grounded on sound scientific prinicles, supported by up-to-date techniques. This book begins with six chapters reviewing the principles of shelf-life evaluation, followed by ten chapters on a number of selected food products such as chilled yogurt and other dairy desserts, seafood, and meat. The latest edition has been expanded to include new chapters on HACCP, preservation technology and shelf life, and minimally processed, ready-to-eat ambient-stable meat products. Sufficient information on the principles and practice of shelf life evaluation has been included for the beginner as well as for those who are more experienced in this area.

The quality and safety of the food we eat deserves the utmost attention and is a priority for producers and consumers alike. Shelf life studies provide important information to manufacturers and consumers to ensure a high-quality food product. Various evaluation methods are used for shelf life determination and they are usually performed at the manufacturer level. Moreover, various techniques are utilized throughout the food chain that enhance the shelf life of food products. This sensitive issue is reviewed in Shelf Life and Food Safety, which brings together a group of subject experts to present up-to-date and objective discussions on a broad range of topics including food spoilage and safe preservation, packaging, and sensory aspects. The book presents both traditional and innovative technologies for enhancing food safety and increasing shelf life, along with methods for the assessment and prediction of food safety and shelf life. Key Features Overviews the issues associated with shelf life enhancement and shelf life evaluation of various food products Addresses issues important to maintaining food safety Explains how shelf life depends on factors, including ingredients for formulation, processing techniques, packaging, and storage conditions Covers shelf life evaluation methods, determinants for shelf life, food quality assessment, and basic and innovative technologies that will improve the shelf life of food products This book is the first of its kind focusing on issues related to evaluation techniques for shelf life determinants, and techniques for shelf life enhancement. It is appropriate for students, researchers, scientists, and professionals in food science and technology. It is also a helpful source of information for people involved in the food industry, food processing sector, product development, marketing, and other associated fields.

This volume focuses on food preservation prior to distribution and sale, which is a major challenge in the tropical climates of most developing nations. In order to assure that food products are safe for human consumption, due importance must be given to the quality and safety aspects of production, processing, and distribution. This volume provides an informative overview of recent research on the therapeutic potential of various new and natural compounds along with novel technologies for enhanced shelf-life longevity and food safety. It also looks at the antimicrobial constituents of different sources and the history of their use as biopreservatives. It includes scientific evaluations of their use as alternative or potential biopreservatives. Focusing on real-life applications in consumer and food products, the book is divided into three parts, covering health and quality aspects of food preservation, applications of novel biomolecules for quality and safety of foods, and novel research techniques in food biopreservation.

The stability and shelf-life of a food product are critical to its success in the market place, yet companies experience considerable difficulties in defining and understanding the factors that influence stability over a desired storage period. This book is the most comprehensive guide to understanding and controlling the factors that determine the shelf-life of food products.

Food Shelf Life Stability provides a unique approach to understanding this critical subject by examining physical, chemical, and biochemical factors affecting food quality. The first section emphasizes the effects that water activity, glass transition, and plasticization have on temperature, water content, and time-dependant phenomena affecting

Abstract: Open shelf-life dating means the use of comprehensible terms such as day, month, and year as an indication of when food was packaged or by when it should beused or sold. A survey revealed that 96 percent of consumers were concerned about food freshness; however, their awareness and comprehension of open dates varied considerably. The benefits of open dating concern food quality, nutrition, food safety, inventory, and education. The types of open dates are: date of pack or manufacture, pull date or sell-by date, best-if-used-by date, expiration or use-by date, or combination of the first four. Food shelf-life is dependent on time and environmental factors. The three alternative open dating systems are: voluntary, mandatory, and voluntary/mandatory. Enforcement and liability would depend on the system used, but Federal and state inspection systems would routinely survey the market. Various congressional options for open dating as well as technical information and the status of open dating in foreign countries are discussed.

"This volume focuses on food preservation prior to distribution and sale, which is a major challenge in the tropical climates of most developing nations. In order to assure that food products are safe for human consumption, due importance must be given to the quality and safety aspects of production, processing, and distribution. This volume provides an informative overview of recent research on the therapeutic potential of various new and natural compounds along with novel technologies for enhanced shelf-life longevity and food safety. It also looks at the antimicrobial constituents of different sources and the history of their use as biopreservatives. It includes scientific evaluations of their use as alternative or potential biopreservatives. Focusing on real-life applications in consumer and food products, the book is divided into three parts, covering health and quality aspects of food preservation, applications of novel biomolecules for quality and safety of foods, and novel research techniques in food biopreservation. Key features: Discusses traditional natural compounds and modern technologies to reduce the spoilage of food products Looks at the therapeutics and their mechanism of actions of biological compounds for food safety Reports on new developments and novel strategies for food safety and quality improvement Novel Strategies to Improve Shelf-Life and Quality of Foods: Quality, Safety, and Health Aspects will be a useful reference for faculty and advanced students in food science as well as for food industry quality practitioners and other industry professionals in the food and dairy industries"--