Processing
Summary
Food ingredients and products are nearly all processed through some means. This includes heating, washing, separating, cutting, mixing, or other processing method or combinations of methods. Food processing is a dominant user of energy in the food supply chain. From the electricity used to drive the motors to the natural gas that fuels heating, energy is a critical resource in food processing. Water use in food processing is dominated by washing and sanitation needs. Nestlé’s operations are aiming to reduce water use in their facilities and effectively treat the water discharged. The well-known beverage company Coca-Cola is dependent on affordable and clean sources of water. Cleaning and sanitizing processes in food plants are essential to maintain food safety and product quality. The combination of efficient, safe, and environmentally proactive processing is what the leading companies are practicing including those described in the examples in this chapter.
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