Microwave-assisted thermal sterilization for packaged meat products
Microwave-assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) offers a superior alternative to conventional methods by achieving commercial sterility, enhancing quality retention, and extending shelf life of packaged meat products without preservatives.
Overview
Microwave-assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) is an innovative technology designed to achieve commercial sterility in packaged meat products. Unlike conventional thermal sterilization methods, such as retort processing, MATS utilizes rapid and uniform microwave heating to efficiently kill pathogens. This process significantly preserves the nutritional content and sensory attributes, such as texture, flavor, and color, of the food. Additionally, MATS extends product shelf life without the need for preservatives, making it ideal for clean-label products—a crucial advantage for the food industry.
Technical specifications
MATS operates using a 915-MHz, 20-kW single-mode system, providing rapid and uniform heating to ensure thorough sterilization. The technology involves placing mobile temperature sensors at the cold spots within food packages to accurately record temperatures during processing. This data informs the thermal treatment levels and processing schedules, including microwave power, water temperature settings, and food package movement speeds, to guarantee high-quality, shelf-stable products. The process can also incorporate inoculated pack studies using Clostridium sporogenes PA3679 spores to validate microbial safety.
Technology readiness level
This technology is at Technology Readiness Level 7, indicating it has been demonstrated in operational environments with various industry partners such as Kraft, Nestle, General Mills, and NASA. It is ready for further commercialization and application in producing high-quality, shelf-stable meat-based products.
About Washington State University
Washington State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university serving the state through a multi‑campus system anchored in Pullman. Industry engagement runs through a research and technology park in Pullman, a health sciences campus in Spokane integrated with regional hospitals, and a statewide extension network linking faculty with companies and communities. The Tri‑Cities campus sits minutes from a U.S. Department of Energy national lab, enabling collaborations, shared facilities access, and talent pipelines for regulated sectors. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, USDA, DOE, and DoD. A dedicated technology transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup support, complemented by incubator and pilot‑scale resources.
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