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About J. Peter Clark
Expertise
How various processed foods are made; ways to improve manufacturing; how to make a new food product.

Experience
Employment history: Research Engineer, U.S.Agricultural Research Service, Associate Professor Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Director of Research, Continental Baking Company, President, Epstein Process Engineering, Inc., Vice Presdent Technology, Fluor Daniel, Inc., Consultant to the Process Industries

Organizations: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (Fellow) Institute of Food Technologists, American Association of Cereal Chemists, American Association of Candy Technologists, American Society of Agricultural Engineers,

Publications: Several Encyclopedias (Kirk and Othmer, Chemical Technology; Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition; Wiley Encyclopedia of Food Science and Technology; Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems); five books, two book chapters; numerous journals.

Education: BSChE Notre Dame PhD University of California, Berkeley

Awards: AIChE Food, Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering Division Award 1998

Clients: Major food processing and pharamaceutical companies.

You are here: Experts > Industry > Food Engineering > Food Engineering/Manufacturing > Benefit of a water clear material for hot fill above 185F

Food Engineering/Manufacturing - Benefit of a water clear material for hot fill above 185F

Expert: J. Peter Clark - 11/7/2009

Question
Would you see a significant advantage for manufactures who process food via hot fill if they had a glass-like clarity in a plastic that could withstand temperature up 210F? Are there perceived advantages for being able to hot fill at temperatures 190-210F?

What foods categorizes are hot filled at upper range of 185F that would benefit from this higher heat materials?

Answer
Clear heat resistant materials are always welcome. In general, hot fill is applied to high acid foods, such as fruit juices. Higher temperatures permit shorter hold times, and so can improve flavors. Plastics are better insulators than glass, so cooling can take longer, off setting some of the advantage of higher temperature. Hot filling is to sterilize the container - the food is sterilized in the heating. Heat resistance can mean lighter weight containers, lowering cost.

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