--- title: Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) the Future of Food Steralization description: A new innovation in food sterilization will help safely distribute food on a massive scale in future. image: https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/BCC_Research.jpg --- [![BCC Research Blog](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/BCC_Research_Blog.png?width=188&height=45&name=BCC_Research_Blog.png "BCC Research Blog")](https://www.bccresearch.com/) ** ![Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) the Future of Food Steralization](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/BCC_Research.jpg "Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) the Future of Food Steralization") # Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) the Future of Food Steralization ![](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/author.svg) [ Jeff Schmerker](https://blog.bccresearch.com/author/jeff-schmerker) ![date](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/date.svg) Oct 5, 2017 [Blog](https://blog.bccresearch.com/) ** [Materials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/topic/materials) ** Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) the Future of Food Steralization In as little as a year, your food could be coming to the table thanks to MATS—a revolutionary food-preparation technology formally known as microwave assisted thermal sterilization. MATS was developed by researchers at Washington State University and may be utilized by online retail giant Amazon, which would sell tasty meals which don’t require refrigeration. Since the dishes don’t require refrigeration, they’d be simple to stockpile and ship. Amazon has already ventured into food delivery and recently purchased Whole Foods Market Inc. “The method involves placing sealed packages of food in pressurized water and heating them with microwaves for several minutes,” [noted](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-food/amazon-looks-to-new-food-technology-for-home-delivery-idUSKBN1AR11X) Reuters. “Unlike traditional processing methods, where packages are in pressure cookers for up to an hour until both bacteria and nutrients are largely gone, the dishes retain their natural flavor and texture, the company said. They also can sit on a shelf for a year, which would make them suitable for Amazon’s storage and delivery business model.” MATS are part of a new wave of food sterilization technologies with origins in the U.S. military, who pioneered MREs—meals ready to eat. “Because the meals have long shelf-lives at room temperature, they could be offered at prices significantly lower than the cost of take-out,” [reported](https://www.eater.com/2017/8/11/16130920/amazon-mres-food-delivery-shelf-stable) Eater. “MREs made by other companies and sold online cost between $4 and $7 per meal; Amazon currently offers from third party sellers.” Maple Valley, Washington-based [Food Chain Safety](https://www.915labs.com/) is the exclusive provider of the MATS food sterilization system. Feeding a growing world population will require innovations, such as MATS, to safely distribute food on a massive scale. This may be why the market for sterilization technologies is experiencing huge growth around the world—especially in places with exceptionally high population growth and density. **Food Steralization Market Across the Globe** The sector is booming in the Asia-Pacific region, and food sterilization is just one part of a booming general sterilization revolution. Growing awareness about disease, the expansion of processed foods and beverages and better healthcare infrastructure are all combining to grow the Asia-Pacific sterilization technologies market, which is expected to grow at 6.5% annually through 2021, when it could be valued at $2.5 billion. Asia’s growth is not the paralleled in North America, although the market is still poised to grow at 5.6% annually through 2021, when it could be valued at $2.9 billion. Why? Even though the market is mature, leaders in this segment are still growing thanks to collaborations, acquisitions and production Sterilization technologies in the food and beverage industry in the Asia-Pacific region are forecast to grow an average 6.5% annually through 2021, [according to a recent report by BCC Research](https://www.bccresearch.com/market-research/chemicals/sterilization-technologies-markets-report.html). By 2021, the market there could be worth $520 million, and according to the BCC Research report, food and beverage sterilization technologies account for more than one-fifth of the region’s total sterilization technologies market. Within the Asia-Pacific region, China accounts for 25% of the market, while Japan nabs 21% and Australia has 13%. In general, the report notes, sterilization technologies are poised to grow in the Asia-Pacific area. “As with other global regions, market influences in Asian countries include aging populations, the need to combat emerging and persistent pathogens, expansion of the processed food and beverage market to accommodate changing lifestyles and growth of the electronics industry,” the report states. “Greater access to healthcare and growing populations, particularly in India and China, are also contributing factors.” For more information on food sterilization and the global markets for sterilization technologies, click on the button below to download a free report overview. [![DOWNLOAD FREE REPORT OVERVIEW](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/308401/bc7fbc43-b1e5-479a-a3e0-90c507463a86.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/308401/bc7fbc43-b1e5-479a-a3e0-90c507463a86) ### Stay ahead of industry trends, build your market research strategy and more. ## Recent Posts ![Sweet Intelligence: How AI is Transforming the $180 Billion Confectionery Ingredients Game](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Modern%20Confectionery%20Lab%20with%20AI%20Tech%20and%20Colorful%20Samples.png?quality=low&width=150&height=100&name=Modern%20Confectionery%20Lab%20with%20AI%20Tech%20and%20Colorful%20Samples.png) #### [Sweet Intelligence: How AI is Transforming the $180 Billion Confectionery Ingredients Game 1 min. read | Featured, food-and-beverage, artificial intelligence technology](https://blog.bccresearch.com/how-ai-is-transforming-the-180-billion-confectionery-ingredients-game) ![AI Is Quietly Revolutionizing How We Make the Foam That's Everywhere](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Foam%20Lab%20with%20Robotic%20Arm%20and%20Data%20Analytics.png?quality=low&width=150&height=100&name=Foam%20Lab%20with%20Robotic%20Arm%20and%20Data%20Analytics.png) #### [AI Is Quietly Revolutionizing How We Make the Foam That's Everywhere 1 min. read | Semiconductor](https://blog.bccresearch.com/ai-is-quietly-revolutionizing-how-we-make-the-foam-thats-everywhere) ![Medical Plastics Meets AI: The Manufacturing Revolution Healthcare Didn't See Coming](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Futuristic%20Manufacturing%20Facility%20with%20Robotic%20Arm%20and%20Holographic%20Interfaces.png?quality=low&width=150&height=100&name=Futuristic%20Manufacturing%20Facility%20with%20Robotic%20Arm%20and%20Holographic%20Interfaces.png) #### [Medical Plastics Meets AI: The Manufacturing Revolution Healthcare Didn't See Coming 1 min. read | medical devices](https://blog.bccresearch.com/medical-plastics-meets-ai) ![The $1 Million Monthly Problem That AI Is Finally Solving in Clinical Trials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/AIDriven%20Clinical%20Research%20Hub%20with%20Dynamic%20Data%20Visualization.png?quality=low&width=150&height=100&name=AIDriven%20Clinical%20Research%20Hub%20with%20Dynamic%20Data%20Visualization.png) #### [The $1 Million Monthly Problem That AI Is Finally Solving in Clinical Trials 1 min. read | Featured, healthcare](https://blog.bccresearch.com/the-1-million-monthly-problem-that-ai-is-finally-solving-in-clinical-trials) ![Jeff Schmerker](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/author.svg) ### Written By Jeff Schmerker ### Related Content [![Boeing's Potential 500-Aircraft China Order Has Everyone Talking — But the Real Story Is in the Materials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Aerospace%20Manufacturing%20Facility%20with%20Advanced%20Machinery%20and%20Growth%20Graph.png?quality=low&width=380&height=250&name=Aerospace%20Manufacturing%20Facility%20with%20Advanced%20Machinery%20and%20Growth%20Graph.png) ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/boeings-potential-500-aircraft-china-order-has-everyone-talking) [ 1 min. read | ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/boeings-potential-500-aircraft-china-order-has-everyone-talking)[Materials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/topic/materials) #### [Boeing's Potential 500-Aircraft China Order Has Everyone Talking — But the Real Story Is in the Materials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/boeings-potential-500-aircraft-china-order-has-everyone-talking) While aviation headlines focus on massive aircraft orders and space tourism mile... [Read more ![Read More](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/read_more_arrow.png?width=12&height=12&name=read_more_arrow.png) ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/boeings-potential-500-aircraft-china-order-has-everyone-talking) [![Explore the Future of Light-Based Innovation in Healthcare and Beyond](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Biophotonics-Technologies.webp?quality=low&width=380&height=250&name=Biophotonics-Technologies.webp) ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/explore-the-future-of-light-based-innovation-in-healthcare-and-beyond) [ 2 min. read | ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/explore-the-future-of-light-based-innovation-in-healthcare-and-beyond)[Materials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/topic/materials) , [Tariff](https://blog.bccresearch.com/topic/tariff) #### [Explore the Future of Light-Based Innovation in Healthcare and Beyond](https://blog.bccresearch.com/explore-the-future-of-light-based-innovation-in-healthcare-and-beyond) Biophotonics: Technologies and Global Markets (PHO024B) [Read more ![Read More](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/read_more_arrow.png?width=12&height=12&name=read_more_arrow.png) ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/explore-the-future-of-light-based-innovation-in-healthcare-and-beyond) [![Tariffs, Chips & Shifting Borders: How Trade Policy Is Redrawing the Semiconductor Map](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-image-new.webp?quality=low&width=380&height=250&name=blog-image-new.webp) ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/tariffs-chips-shifting-borders-how-trade-policy-is-redrawing-the-semiconductor-map) [ 3 min. read | ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/tariffs-chips-shifting-borders-how-trade-policy-is-redrawing-the-semiconductor-map)[Materials](https://blog.bccresearch.com/topic/materials) #### [Tariffs, Chips & Shifting Borders: How Trade Policy Is Redrawing the Semiconductor Map](https://blog.bccresearch.com/tariffs-chips-shifting-borders-how-trade-policy-is-redrawing-the-semiconductor-map) Global Trade: A Strategic Shift The global trade environment is undergoing a dra... [Read more ![Read More](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/read_more_arrow.png?width=12&height=12&name=read_more_arrow.png) ](https://blog.bccresearch.com/tariffs-chips-shifting-borders-how-trade-policy-is-redrawing-the-semiconductor-map) ![Guiding smart decisions every step of the way](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/workaholic-hand-typing-keyboard-dark-late-night-with-computer.webp?width=1366&height=378&name=workaholic-hand-typing-keyboard-dark-late-night-with-computer.webp) ## Guiding smart decisions every step of the way We are your trusted research partner, providing actionable insights and custom consulting across life sciences, advanced materials, and technology. Allow BCC Research to nurture your smartest business decisions today, tomorrow, and beyond. [ Contact Us ](https://www.bccresearch.com/aboutus/contactus) BCC Research provides objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities with detailed market research reports. Our experienced industry analysts assess growth opportunities, market sizing, technologies, applications, supply chains and companies with the singular goal of helping you make informed business decisions, free of noise and hype. ### Stay Informed #### Contact - [**781-489-7301](tel:7814897301) - [**info@bccresearch.com](mailto:info@bccresearch.com) © 2023 BCC Research [Privacy Policy](http://www.bccresearch.com/privacypolicy) |[Site Map](http://www.bccresearch.com/sitemap) #### Connect With Us [![BCC Research](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BCCResearch%20-Feb2017/icon-linkedin-ftr.png?width=36&height=36&name=icon-linkedin-ftr.png) ](http://www.linkedin.com/company/bccresearch) [![BCC Research](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BCCResearch%20-Feb2017/icon-email-ftr.png?width=36&height=36&name=icon-email-ftr.png) ](mailto:info@bccresearch.com) [![BCC Research](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BCCResearch%20-Feb2017/icon-twitter-ftr.png?width=36&height=36&name=icon-twitter-ftr.png) ](https://twitter.com/bccresearch) [![BCC Research](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/youtube.png?width=36&height=36&name=youtube.png) ](https://www.youtube.com/user/bccresearch) ![money back guarantee](https://blog.bccresearch.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/money-back.png?width=60&height=60&name=money-back.png) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jeff Schmerker", "url" : "https://blog.bccresearch.com/author/jeff-schmerker" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-03T04:27:37.057Z", "datePublished" : "2017-10-05T15:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) the Future of Food Steralization", "image" : [ "https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/bcc_blog-2022/blogs/BCC_Research.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.bccresearch.com/microwave-assisted-thermal-sterilization-mats-the-future-of-food-steralization", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.bccresearch.com/hubfs/Logos/BCC-Logo-PSD-REMOVED-WHITE-BCC.png" }, "name" : "BCC Research LLC" } } ```