Processing food with MATS is dramatically different than conventional food processing, also called ‘retort.’ By transforming the way food is thermally processed, the MATS system creates the possibility of a whole new range of healthful, shelf-stable foods — from tender spears of asparagus to spicy Indian dishes to gourmet foodstuffs — each with a ‘clean’ or additive-free label.
In conventional processing, packaged foods are placed in pressurized cookers at high temperatures for up to an hour. To mask the damage caused by this prolonged exposure to high heat, salt, flavor, texture and color enhancers, and other unnatural ingredients must be added.
MATS simultaneously heats packaged food externally in a pressurized hot water bath and internally using a patented microwave energy delivery system at a frequency of 915 megahertz. This combination of approaches very rapidly heats the entire package of food to sterilization temperature and then rapidly cools the food to minimize any heat damage, eliminating pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in a matter of minutes.
This shortened heating time preserves the nutrients, color, texture and flavor of foods — while providing a shelf life equivalent to conventionally processed foods.
“MATS has the potential to emerge as a game-changer.”