This invention proposes a method for prolonging the shelf life of perishable fruits and vegetables using a combination of non-destructive thermal and non-thermal sterilization techniques. Leveraging AI-based algorithms, it utilizes traceable data from the entire value and supply chain. This integration allows growers, processors, and traders to collect and analyze traceable data for informed decisions on product quality and safety, effectively minimizing spoilage and quality loss. The environmentally-friendly method uses AI for precise sterilization process control and monitoring, considering factors such as product characteristics and traceability data. This comprehensive approach enhances preservation, improves supply chain management, reduces food waste, and ensures food safety and quality in the fruit & vegetable industry.

Provided is an innovative method for sterilization or inactivation treatment of heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria that demonstrates a sufficient sterilization effect in a reliable manner and that can be implemented using simple equipment by reducing the heat resistance of heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria by the effect of decompression treatment in a high-pressure process, and by carrying out a heat sterilization treatment after a predetermined resting time has elapsed after the decompression to thereby sterilize and inactivate heat-resistant bacteria that have reduced heat resistance. A method for sterilizing or inactivating heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria by performing, as a pretreatment of a heat sterilization treatment, a high-pressure treatment in which a hydrostatic pressure of 50 MPa or more and 200 MPa or less is applied to an object under a temperature of 50 C. or less, and a decompression treatment for decompression is carried out, after which the object having undergone the decompression treatment is subjected to the heat sterilization treatment after a predetermined resting time has elapsed after a variation in hydrostatic pressure by the decompression has occurred.

A method for preparing a shelf-stable, high-moisture food product is disclosed, including drying the pre-pasteurized food item to a water activity between 0.86 and 0.94; and vacuum packing the dried food item in an oxygen impermeable and water-impermeable membrane.

Provided herein are techniques, devices, and systems for determining the safety of an ingestible product with respect to a contaminant as the ingestible product is being processed. A computing system may receive data associated with processing of an ingestible product. Based on the data, and using a model, the computing system may determine a value associated with the ingestible product with respect to a target contaminant. Based on the value, the ingestible product can be classified as a class label indicative of a safety of the ingestible product with respect to the contaminant, such as a classification of safe or unsafe. In some examples, a reduction of a contaminant in an ingestible product is dynamically monitored, in real-time, as the ingestible product is being processed.

Provided are a method of producing tempeh appropriate for mass production, tempeh produced thereby, and aged fermented tempeh.