Microwave-induced thermal sterilization: A review on history, technical progress, advantages and challenges as compared to the conventional methods

Microwave-assisted thermal sterilizsation (MATS) technology combines the energy from microwaves of long-wavelength (915 MHz) along with hot water immersion to sterilize food in polymeric packages. MATS is presumed to be a successful sterilization method to eliminate pathogens including bacterial spores, improve the shelf-life of food products while the nutritive qualities and flavours are not affected (within consumer acceptance). From the regulatory point of view, it is a thermal technology for pre-packaged commercial sterilization of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous foods as accepted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).