Features a Foreword by Dr. Dietrich Knorr.

Fruit processing and preservation technologies must ensure fresh-like characteristics in foods while providing an acceptable and convenient shelf life, as well as assuring safety and nutritional value. Processing technologies include a wide range of methodologies to inactivate microorganisms, improve quality and stability, and preserve and minimize changes of fresh-like characteristics in fruit. High pressure as a food preservation technique inactivates microorganisms at room temperature or lower; thus, sensory and nutritional characteristics can be maintained. In recent years, a significant increase in the number of scientific papers in literature demonstrating novel and diversified uses of high pressure processing indicates it to be highly emerging technology. The effect of high pressure technology on the quality and safety of foods will be discussed. Selected practical examples in fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat industries using high pressure will be presented and discussed. A brief account of the challenges in adopting this technology for industrial development will also be included.

The 39th Annual Denver X-Ray Conference on Applications of X-Ray Analysis was held July 30 -August 3, 1990, at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort and Conference Center, Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The "Denver Conference" is recognized to be a major event in the x-ray analysis field, bringing together scientists and engineers from around the world to discuss the state of the art in x-ray applications as well as indications for future develop ments. In recent years there has been a steady expansion of applications of x-ray analysis to characterize surfaces and thin films. To introduce the audience to one of the exciting and important new developments in x-ray fluorescence, the topic for the Plenary Session of the 1990 Conference was: "Surface and Near-Surface X-Ray Spectroscopy. " The Conference had the privilege of inviting five leading world experts in the field of x-ray spectroscopy to deliver lectures at the Plenary Session. The first two lectures were on total-reflection x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Professor P. Wobrauschek of Austria reviewed "Recent Developments and Results in Total-Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence. " Trends and applications of the technique were also discussed. Dr. T. Arai of Japan reported on "Surface and Near-Surface Analysis of Silicon Wafers by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence. " He emphasized the importance of using proper x-ray optics to achieve high signal-to-noise ratios. A mathematical model relating the x-ray intensity to the depth of x-ray penetration was also described.

During the past decade, consumer demand for convenient, fresh-like, safe, high-quality food products has grown. The food industry has responded by applying a number of new technologies including high hydrostatic pressure for food processing and preservation. In addition, food scientists have demonstrated the feasibility of industrial-scale high pressure processing. This technology is of specific interest to the food industry because it provides an attractive alternative to conventional methods of thermal processing, which often produce undesirable changes in foods and hamper the balance between high quality (color, flavor, and functionality) and safety. In addition, it offers opportunities for creating new ingredients and products because of the specific actions of high pressure on bio logical materials and food constituents. It allows food scientists to redesign exist ing processes and to create entirely new ones using high pressure technology alone or in combination with conventional processes (e. g. , pressure-temperature combinations ). Researchers have investigated high pressure processing for the past century. Scientists such as Hite and Bridgman did pioneering work at the turn of the 20th century. Then during the 1980s and 1990s, there was a large effort to investigate the effects of high pressure on biological materials, particularly foods. The initial research activities in the late 1980s and early 1990s focused on exploratory activ ities in the food area.

During the past decade, consumer demand for convenient, fresh-like, safe, high-quality food products has grown. The food industry has responded by applying a number of new technologies including high hydrostatic pressure for food processing and preservation. In addition, food scientists have demonstrated the feasibility of industrial-scale high pressure processing. This technology is of specific interest to the food industry because it provides an attractive alternative to conventional methods of thermal processing, which often produce undesirable changes in foods and hamper the balance between high quality (color, flavor, and functionality) and safety. In addition, it offers opportunities for creating new ingredients and products because of the specific actions of high pressure on bio logical materials and food constituents. It allows food scientists to redesign exist ing processes and to create entirely new ones using high pressure technology alone or in combination with conventional processes (e. g., pressure-temperature combinations ). Researchers have investigated high pressure processing for the past century. Scientists such as Hite and Bridgman did pioneering work at the turn of the 20th century. Then during the 1980s and 1990s, there was a large effort to investigate the effects of high pressure on biological materials, particularly foods. The initial research activities in the late 1980s and early 1990s focused on exploratory activ ities in the food area."

Available water disinfection systems rely mainly on large-scale filtration and the combination of filtration (to remove solids), and subsequent application of chemical disinfectants. This has proven to produce water of acceptable quality. Important points for application in household systems are low complexity, few training requirements, and easy transportation and distribution as well as a sufficiently high acceptance by the user. " "

Written and endorsed by the "European Federation of Food Science and Technology "thisbook compares a variety of purification systems. There is a growing evidence base on targeting water quality improvements to maximize health benefits, and it is believed that 4% of the global disease burden could be prevented by improving water supply, sanitation, and hygiene. Better tools and procedures to improve and protect drinking-water quality at the community and urban level, for example, through Water Safety Plans include the availability of simple and inexpensive approaches to treat and safely store water at the household-level.

*Provides single-source comparison of advantages and disadvantages relevant to the various practices of multiple water treatments

*Acknowledges the limitations of governmental interventions that need to be supplemented by individual practices such as home implementation systems

*Provides practical implementation insights and perspectives via graphs, tablesand charts that make information readily accessible and comparable"