The present disclosure is directed to processed food and/or beverage that includes undenatured type II collagen. The undenatured type II collagen is introduced to the food and/or beverage prior to processing, and at least 30% or more of the undenatured collagen remains undenatured in the after processing the food and/or beverage.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a container-packed composition in which a heat deterioration smell, such as a retort smell based on contained ingredients such as soy sauce, meat, and soybean protein, is reduced; a processed food using the composition and a method of producing the processed food; and a composition in which a smell specific to meat is suppressed, and a flavor of the meat is improved so as to impart umami of meat, regardless of the type of meat. The purpose is achieved by: a container-packed composition containing at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of a seasoning component, vegetables, meat, and seafood and having a phenethyl acetate content of 1.0 ppb or more and less than 1,000 ppb; and a container-packed composition containing animal meat and having a phenethyl acetate content of 1 ppb or more and less than 1,500 ppb.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a container-packed composition in which a heat deterioration smell, such as a retort smell based on contained ingredients such as soy sauce, meat, and soybean protein, is reduced; a processed food using the composition and a method of producing the processed food; and a composition in which a smell specific to meat is suppressed, and a flavor of the meat is improved so as to impart umami of meat, regardless of the type of meat. The purpose is achieved by: a container-packed composition containing at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of a seasoning component, vegetables, meat, and seafood and having a phenethyl acetate content of 1.0 ppb or more and less than 1,000 ppb; and a container-packed composition containing animal meat and having a phenethyl acetate content of 1 ppb or more and less than 1,500 ppb.

A lower carbohydrate soup product is produced by preparing a mixture of soup ingredients, native xanthan gum, particulate xanthan gum and water to form a suspension in a high-speed mixer at a high sheer rate. The native xanthan gum and particulate xanthan gum cooperate to provide a viscosity necessary for successfully retorting a lower carbohydrate soup. The suspension is heated with steam injection until a viscosity sufficient to maintain the soup ingredients and particulate xanthan gum in a suspension. The suspension is then injected into a retort container and undergoes a retort process, thereby producing the lower carbohydrate soup product.

Provided is a simulation model sample for evaluation of heat treatment including a porous water absorbing material that is flexible and deformable; and a container that is configured to be able to contain the porous water absorbing material having water absorbed therein. Also provided is a method for evaluating heat treatment using a simulation model sample including a step of allowing a flexible and deformable porous water absorbing material to absorb water, and the porous water absorbing material to be contained in a container, to produce a simulation model sample; and a step of subjecting the simulation model sample to heat treatment, while measuring a temperature inside the simulation model sample.

A container or load basket (80, 90) constructed for addressing thermal stratification of a product in the container/load basket and addressing thermal stratification of the processing medium during high pressure processing with a pressurized processing medium. The container includes an upper section (86, 96) forming a volume for receiving the product to be processed and a truncated lower section forming the bottom of the container. The bottom of the container is defined by a floor or partition (84, 92) extending across the lower portion of the container.The floor or partition can be constructed from the same material from which the upper section of the container is formed or a material that is more adiabatically active than the material from which the upper section of the container is formed.

A container or load basket (80, 90) constructed for addressing thermal stratification of a product in the container/load basket and addressing thermal stratification of the processing medium during high pressure processing with a pressurized processing medium. The container includes an upper section (86, 96) forming a volume for receiving the product to be processed and a truncated lower section forming the bottom of the container. The bottom of the container is defined by a floor or partition (84, 92) extending across the lower portion of the container.The floor or partition can be constructed from the same material from which the upper section of the container is formed or a material that is more adiabatically active than the material from which the upper section of the container is formed.

A sterilizer according to the present invention comprises: a temperature-raising module for heating a carriage introduced thereinto; a sterilization module for sterilizing the carriage transferred from the temperature-raising module; a cooling module for cooling the carriage transferred from the sterilization module; and an opening-closing module connected to the temperature-raising module, the sterilization module, or the cooling module, to selectively open or close at least one module, and the sterilizer independently heat-treats a space separated by the opening-closing module.

An opening/closing module according to the present invention comprises a middle door part having a curved shape that is located at an entrance of a sterilization module to separate, from the outside, the sterilization module that provides a sterilization space for accommodating a hand truck, and selectively opens/closes the entrance of the sterilization module by including a sliding part.

A method for preparing and packaging a ready-made dish. The method includes: placing a first food item in a container; placing a second food item in the container in such a way that the second food item is situated above the first food item; placing a sauce or a gravy in the container so that the sauce or the gravy is situated beneath the first food item or mixed with the first food item without being in contact with the second food item before and during the heating process; carrying out the hermetic vacuum sealing of the container; heating the food contents of the closed container, the container remaining without movement during the heating step.