The food we eatRaytheon uses millimeter-wave radiation to keep food safe
Missile and defense contractor Raytheon offers a solution which uses millimeter-wave radiation to pasteurize food; new method is both healthier and more energy efficient than current pasteurization technologies
Raytheon is associated with missiles and defense-related technologies, and millimeter-wave radiation is associated with full-body security scans at airports’ check points. Raytheon and millimeter-wave radiation together, though, would from now be associated with healthier food.
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has developed a pasteurization technology that can be integrated into the food supply chain resulting in both energy reduction for the food production market and healthier and safer products for consumers.
The technology delivers concentrated energy to the surface of the food, reducing the amount of wasted energy that exists in current pasteurization methods. Unlike current solutions, this technology does not rely on chemicals or ionizing radiation to destroy harmful bacteria, but rather uses the heat produced by millimeter waves to kill harmful bacteria. A more efficient solution, 95 percent of the energy produced is directed to the food surface. This is particularly useful for ground meats and citrus, which commonly have higher risk of bacterial contamination.
“Since we patented the first microwave oven nearly 65 years ago, Raytheon has had a rich history of developing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Lee Silvestre, vice president of Mission Innovation for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. “As our world food supply is becoming increasingly susceptible to contamination, it is important that we continue to develop healthier, more efficient methods to keep our food supply safe.”
In recent tests using multiple samples of meat pre-contaminated with three harmful bacteria, the system killed all three in less than sixteen seconds. These results demonstrate several benefits: This solution is healthier than a chemical wash and more energy efficient than direct heat methods. Additionally, because this technology can be incorporated into existing food processing lines, pasteurization results are achieved more quickly than bulk pasteurization using ionizing radiation.
