Method and apparatus for preserving food products

Abstract

In a method of preserving a food product by applying high pressure, the food product (,) is forced through a treatment system (,) having an entrance (,) and an exit (,) while a pressure difference of at least 10 MPa is substantially maintained between the entrance and the exit. The product (,) is subjected to a varying electric and/or magnetic field. A treatment system with a plurality of treatment chambers is used, wherein the treatment chambers are electrically connected to reduce impedance variations of the treatment system during the preserving of the food product. For the food product flow the treatment chambers are series connected. An apparatus (,) for preserving food products comprises at least one treatment system (,) having an entrance (,) and an exit (,), a high-pressure generating means (,) for forcing a product (,) through the treatment system, while substantially maintaining a pressure difference of at least 10 MPa between the entrance and the exit, and means (,) for generating a varying electric and/or magnetic field and for subjecting the product to the varying electric and/or magnetic field. The treatment system comprises a plurality of treatment chambers (,) which are electrically interconnected to reduce impedance variations of the treatment system and which are series connected for the food product flow.