Advances in Food Processing Through Radio Frequency Technology: Applications in Pest Control, Microbial and Enzymatic Inactivation

Foodborne illnesses occur due to contamination by pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, decontaminating food is vital before marketing and circulation. Radio frequency (RF) heating stands out in several branches of industry, mainly food processing, as an alternative method to conventional pasteurization which takes long process times and overheating. RF heating functions without relying on heat conduction. It generates internal heat by inducing the rotation of polar molecules and the motion of ions. The advantages of dielectric heating with greater wave penetration include rapid, uniform and volumetric heating, presenting high energy efficiency. Furthermore, it is an effective, validated method for eliminating pathogens in agricultural products and is free from chemical residues. Although many reviews have discussed this technology, few reviews have covered the research trends in this field in the recent years, during which the number of studies discussing RF treatment of foods have increased. Therefore, this review focuses on the RF applications in the food industry for pest control, microbial and enzymatic inactivation of solid, liquid, and powdered foods in the last five years. Besides covering the fundamental aspects of RF technology, we also examine its benefits and drawbacks, address the challenges it presents, and explore future prospects