Friday

Understanding The Popularity Of Shelf Stable Meals

By Daphne Bowen


Picture this scenario, an employee fleeting through their work assignment totally ignoring the hunger pangs in their stomach. If only you could have shelf stable meals to get you through the afternoon. This must be the reason why these ready to go food remedies are popular amongst many people. They do not require refrigeration since the have been processed to last longer. They offer the best solution to the duty packed lives we all face today.

A varied number of ways by which these products are made exist thanks to technological advancements. These could include simply dehydrating the foodstuffs or opting to apply more technical methods such as ionization and hydrogenation.

The process of desiccation or dehydration is effective in preservation of food since the microorganisms causing food decay require a moisture laden environment to grow and thrive. Drying in effect destroys this environment. Most commonly desiccated foods include fish, beans green peas and fruits.

Foods can also be sterilized to increase storage time. This treatment works by exposing foodstuffs to ionizing radiation which in effect kills the bacteria and invasive pests. It also serves to delay ripening of fruits. A different approach may be to replace the component ingredients such as fat. Since fats and oils produce undesirable odors and flavors rather quickly if not properly stored, hydrogenation may serve to delay this process thereby increasing its expiry date.

The suitability of a chosen technique of preservation is determined by its ability to retain the original taste, flavor and sometimes even color. A method that does not preserve these qualities could be viewed as incorrect, therefore reasons for choosing a method will depend on the food types.

Households stock on different types of preserved foods due to their shelf life. This eases preparation of certain delicacies. They may also stock up to cover for food in circumstances where the availability of fresh foods may be hampered. Workers with tight schedules can also benefit from these products since they are easily available and many ready to eat alternatives exist at any time deemed convenient.

Outdoor celebrations such as picnics or even camping and hiking expeditions is an ideal time to to bring along preserved ready to munch meals such as beef stew, granola bars, apple juice the list is endless.

These means of preservation however pose a risk to out health. Irradiation serves to alter the chemical makeup of fruits. It is not clear whether radiation has zero effect on produce as claimed by food companies, this may just be a ploy to keep them in business. The effect of hydrogenation is however clear since it increases the trans fat content in oils. This in effect spikes up the cholesterol levels in the food. Cholesterol is a well known villain for it causes a wide range of vascular complications.

The final consumer is however at liberty to decide on whatever products to consume. This should always be done with understanding of the benefits and dangers one may be exposed to.




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