Emerging Technologies and “Fresh” Labeling

Can foods treated by new nonthermal processes be considered “fresh”? That has been a subject of concern to food companies and equipment manufacturers involved with emerging nonthermal processing technologies.

In 1993, the Food and Drug Administration published a final regulation allowing use of the word “fresh” in labeling if it implies that the food is unprocessed, i.e., not frozen and not thermally treated or otherwise preserved. The following treatments would not preclude the food from bearing…