Thermal In-Pouch Microwave Sterilization Preface This report comprises an overview of the Objective, Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions of this contract. These are then followed by six (6) detailed reports on its specific research activities. Future work is planned to evaluate the polymeric barrier material for quality, physical and barrier properties over accelerated shelf-life testing using traditional and novel food processing technologies. optimized polymeric laminations to provide oxygen and light barrier at levels measured in field-worn ration packaging; while they do not reach desired moisture barrier levels, the optimization process has brought them closer to desired levels. Packages of an entree item, chicken and dumplings, were processed and in-cubated to produce a validation report in the method of an FDA filing. Shelf-life model-ing software was utilized to evaluate the materials over standard as well as extreme conditions of temperature and humidity that the MRE items could experience over its shelf-life. Additionally, Time-Temperature Indicator (TTI) ink technology was developed and applied on-pouch as a sensor to indicate that package had seen the proper processing conditions. 2. Objective The technical objective of this contract is to research and develop "Packaging technology based on non-foil high barrier polymeric material...needed to ensure protection against oxygen, moisture vapor, microbial, and insect penetrants to maintain integrity throughout the military logistics system, and to provide rations with a minimum three year shelf life." "Technology is needed to develop advanced materials/films/coatings for flexible, semi-rigid and rigid polymeric containers that provide physical and chemical protection comparable to traditional aluminum foil-based high barrier polymeric materials. Determine compatibility of non-foil high barrier polymeric material for both thermoprocessing and novel thermal/nonthermal processing, e.g. microwave or high pressure processing." Additionally, "Technology is needed to develop a model that will predict the barrier performance of film structures incorporating multiple high barrier technologies, while taking into account environmental variables such as temperature and relative humidity, as well as the packaged product"" (NSRDEC, 2009). This report compiles the work done by Printpack Inc. under the subject contract to address these needs. Specifically, the following goals were addressed by the research: 1. To optimize the polymeric banner packaging materials to better meet moisture barrier levels necessary for the 3 year shelf-life. 2. To evaluate the optimized structure with regards to oxygen, moisture and light barrier as well as physical properties to ensure it will maintain structural integrity through processing, handling and storage. 3. To process entrees with Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) and successfully validate the processing technology through FDA filings. 4. To model standard and extreme shelf-life scenarios using novel modeli...
