The purpose of the present invention is to provide a revolutionary method for sterilizing or inactivating heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria capable of being carried out using simple equipment and providing reliable and sufficient sterilization effects, by reducing the heat resistance of heat resistant spore-forming bacteria due to the effects of a depressurization treatment during a high-pressure treatment, and performing a thermal sterilization treatment after a predetermined rest time has elapsed after the depressurization, to sterilize and inactivate the heat-resistant bacteria with reduced heat resistance. The sterilization or inactivation treatment method for heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria involves, as a pretreatment before a thermal sterilization treatment, subjecting the substance being treated to a high-pressure treatment of applying a hydrostatic pressure of at least 50 MPa and no more than 200 MPa at a temperature of 50 °C or less, then subjecting the substance being treated to a depressurization treatment, and after a predetermined rest time has elapsed since the variation in hydrostatic pressure has occurred due to this depressurization, subjecting the substance being treated, which has been subjected to the depressurization treatment, to a thermal sterilization treatment.
A23L 3/015 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with pressure variation, shock, acceleration or shear stress
A61L 2/02 - Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
A high-pressure processing device in which deterioration of a sealing packing due to heat produced by adiabatic compression of air present in a processing chamber is prevented. A metal projection (15) having a smaller diameter than the inner diameter D1 of a processing chamber (2) of a pressurizing container (4) is formed on the inner surface of a closing lid (5). An air holding gap (10) is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the projection (15) and the inner peripheral surface of the processing chamber (2). The width d1 of the air holding gap (10) and the inner diameter D1 of the processing chamber (2) are set so as to satisfy the relationship of D1/d1 ≥ 4. The projection (15) is provided with a cooling tank (12) for containing a cooling liquid (7) such that the cooling liquid (7) is isolated from a processing liquid medium (11) placed in the processing chamber (2).
It is intended to provide a method of producing sterile cooked rice, in which botulinum spores are efficiently decreased while sustaining the color and texture of cooked rice and which can be stored over a long period of time while preventing the proliferation of Clostridium botulinum and other vital bacteria, and sterile cooked rice obtained by this method. The above objects are established by providing a method of producing sterile cooked rice, which comprises conducting a high pressure treatment at 200 MPa or higher to thereby lower the botulinum bacterial count in the form of spores (expressed in the measurement unit cfu/g) to a ratio of 10-1 or less compared with the level before the high pressure treatment, then conducting a heat treatment at a cooking temperature of 115°C or lower to thereby lower the bacterial count to a ratio of 10-3 or less compared with the level before the heat treatment, and sterile cooked rice obtained by this method.
A centrifugal separation/dewatering device capable of treating an object by centrifugal separation and dewatering and at the same time drying the object by air blow. In the centrifugal separation/dewatering device, a water draining basket body (2) for receiving the object (1) is rotatably installed in a device body (3), and the water draining basket body (2) is rotated to separate and remove moisture adhering on the object (1). A hollow rotating shaft (5) rotated by a drive source (4) is raised in the device body (3), and the water draining basket (2) corotating with the rotating shaft (5) is placed around the rotating shaft (5). The inside of the hollow rotating shaft (5) and the inside of the water draining basket (2) are communicated with each other, and when the object (1) received in the basket (2) is subjected to centrifugal separation and dewatering by rotation of the rotating shaft (5) by the drive source (4), air introduced into the rotating shaft (5) is led from the inside of the rotating shaft (5) into the water draining basket (2) to dry the object (2) by air blow and centrifugal force.
F26B 5/08 - Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by centrifugal treatment
B04B 3/00 - Centrifuges with rotary bowls in which solid particles or bodies become separated by centrifugal force and simultaneously sifting or filtering
8.
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FOOD ENCLOSED IN SEALED CONTAINER
A process for producing a food enclosed in sealed containers which is free from a trouble during production that water spills from the containers or a perforating jig falls into the containers and in which a heat treatment can be conducted without causing quality unevenness. A food (1) is placed in containers (2). The containers (2) filled with the food (1) are sealed with a primary film (4) having a through-hole (3) to obtain a sealed-container-packed food (A). This sealed-container-packed food (A) is disposed in a heating vessel (7) having a steam inlet part (5) and a steam discharge part (6). Steam is introduced through the steam inlet part (5) into the heating vessel (7) to heat the sealed-container-packed food (A) while discharging the steam through the steam discharge part (6). Thereafter, a secondary film (8) is bonded to each container through the primary film (4) so as to cover the through-hole (3).
A23L 3/00 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
A23L 3/12 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating materials in packages which are not progressively transported through the apparatus with packages in intercommunicating chambers through which the heating medium is circulated
B65B 55/14 - Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging by heat
In a pressurization system for cooking grain capable of performing pressurization on grain and water under enclosed state without causing deformation of a grain container by supplying pressurized water from a pressure water supply pump to a pressurization chamber, such a tight contact state that grain (8) and water contained in the grain container (6) do not leak to the outside is sustained for the grain container in the pressurization chamber (1) communicating with the pressure water supply pump (2), a portion (51) for supporting from the upper side is provided removably while having a water inlet/outlet (21), and a mechanism for transmitting a pressure based on water supply from the pressure water supply pump (2) into the grain container (6) under a state where the grain (8) and water in the grain container (6) is isolated from water in the pressurization chamber (1) is provided. Following pressurization processing, the container (6) is taken out from the pressurization chamber (1) and the system proceeds to the next centrifugal separating operation and then to a rice cooking process.
An innovative method of heating treatment for food excelling in practical utility in which the same cooking and appertization as in the prior art can be performed with economic efficiency and productivity superior to those of the prior art. There is provided a method of heating treatment for food characterized by disposing food (2) in airtight container (1) retaining or capable of retaining a given gas pressure; and injecting a heating liquid of 100°C or higher heated by heating source (8) into the space within the airtight container (1) toward the food (2), so that in place of immersing the food (2) in the heating liquid to thereby effect heating treatment thereof, the heating liquid injected in the airtight container (1) is applied to the food (2), or package (3) of the food, or covering body (4) of these, thereby achieving heating treatment of the food (2) disposed in the airtight container (1) defining an airtight pressurization space with the use of heat of the heating liquid.
A23L 3/12 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating materials in packages which are not progressively transported through the apparatus with packages in intercommunicating chambers through which the heating medium is circulated
A23L 3/24 - Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating loose unpacked materials with the materials in spray form
