Food industry applications for pulsed electric fields

Abstract

In this chapter the potential of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to enhance or create alternatives to conventional methods in food processing will be summarized. After a brief introduction of the historical background, some applications for gentle food preservation will be presented. The enhancement of mass transfer processes like extraction or drying by PEF-pretreatment will be pointed out by showing examples ranging from fruit juice and plant oil recovery to the disintegration of animal tissue. The use of PEF for the softening of plant tissue, for the induction of stress reactions, as well as for wastewater treatment will be illustrated. The discussion of energy requirements and cost-effectiveness will complete the chapter.