FOOD INDUSTRY INFORMATION SERIES

Understanding microwave ready meal heating guidelines

Introduction

During 2008 we will be publishing a series of articles on understanding microwave ready meal heating guidelines, presented by Gordon Andrews, Managing Director of GAMA Microwave Technology and UK Microwave Association Technical Officer, to provide some general insight into this ever-expanding food industry phenomenon. The idea being that Gordon provides a sequence of topics, inviting you to ask questions when necessary, responding either by e-mail: mail@gamaconsultants.com or Tel: +44 (0)20 8309 9222.

GAMA provides specialist microwave services for retail suppliers and food producing organisations. This includes food temperature profiling, assistance with food packaging solutions, plus on-site thermal and microwave oven calibration services meeting British Standards BS EN and food industry requirements. We also endeavour to keep our clients regularly up-dated, by providing free-of-charge presentations on the latest in microwave food heating and cooking appliance technology, whilst maintaining our normal on-site duties .... see website: www.gamaconsultants.com and follow the links.

Lewis Napleton

For the next two issues I have asked Lewis Napleton FIH, FCMI, who has been closely associated with the introduction and pioneering of microwave ovens since their introduction over 50 years ago, to give us his views. Apart from his work with J Lyons, Philips and Litton Industries he has had six books published about modern commercial and domestic foodservice topics, on which he has also been a prolific freelance author of technical subjects for many publications.

Lewis is also the editor of HIGHLIGHTS the UK Microwave Association newsletter, and he can be contacted on Email: lewisnapleton@btinternet.com

Issue No. 1 January 2008	How microwaves interact with food substances
Addendum to Issue 1 January 2008	‘HEALTHIER FOOD’ ALERT
Issue No. 2 February 2008	What does “Microwave Power and Declared Oven Wattage" really mean?
Issue No. 3 March 2008	Understanding Microwave Ready Meal Heating Guidelines
Issue No. 4 April 2008	Background to the Regeneration of Ready Meals using Microwave Heating in two parts. Part 1 - The Challenge
Issue No. 5 May 2008	Background to the Regeneration of Ready Meals using Microwave Heating in two parts. Part 2 - The Justification
Press Release Sept 2008	Salt, Sugar & Fat Reduction

Coming soon …

... Ready meals active container heating guidelines
... Industrial microwave food production considerations
... Breakthrough in Even-Heating Microwave Technology