Canning
Canning is a method of food preservation in which food is processed and sealed in an airtight container (jars like Mason jars, and steel and tin cans). Canning provides a shelf life that typically ranges from one to five years,[a] although under specific circumstances, it can be much longer.[2] A freeze-dried canned product, such as canned dried lentils, could last as long as 30 years in an edible state.
In 1974, samples of canned food from the wreck of the
History and development
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French origins
Shortly before the Napoleonic Wars, the French government offered a hefty cash award of 12,000 francs to any inventor who could devise a cheap and effective method of preserving large amounts of food to create well-preserved military rations for the Grande Armée. The larger armies of the period required increased and regular supplies of quality food. Limited food availability was among the factors limiting military campaigns to the summer and autumn months. In 1809, Nicolas Appert, a French confectioner and brewer, observed that food cooked inside a jar did not spoil unless the seals leaked, and developed a method of sealing food in glass jars.[4] Appert was awarded the prize in 1810 by Count Montelivert, a French minister of the interior.[5] The reason for lack of spoilage was unknown at the time, since it would be another 50 years before Louis Pasteur demonstrated the role of microbes in food spoilage and developed pasteurization.
The Grande Armée began experimenting with issuing canned foods to its soldiers, but the slow process of canning and the even slower development and transport stages prevented the army from shipping large amounts across the French Empire, and the wars ended before the process was perfected.
Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the canning process was gradually employed in other European countries and the United States.
In the United Kingdom
Based on Appert's methods of food preservation, the
The main market for the food at this stage was the
In Europe
During the mid-19th century, canned food became a
Increasing mechanization of the canning process, coupled with a huge increase in urban populations across Europe, resulted in a rising demand for canned food. A number of inventions and improvements followed, and by the 1860s smaller machine-made steel cans were possible, and the time to cook food in sealed cans had been reduced from around six hours to thirty minutes.
In the United States
Canned food also began to spread beyond Europe—Robert Ayars established the first American canning factory in
World War I
Demand for canned food skyrocketed during World War I, as military commanders sought vast quantities of cheap, high-calorie food to feed their millions of soldiers, which could be transported safely, survive trench conditions, and not spoil in transport. Throughout the war, British soldiers generally subsisted on low-quality canned food, such as the British bully beef, pork and beans, canned sausages, and Maconochie's stew, but by 1916, widespread dissatisfaction and increasing complaints about the poor quality canned food among soldiers resulted in militaries seeking better-quality food to improve morale, and complete meals-in-a-can began to appear. In 1917, the French Army began issuing canned French cuisine such as coq au vin, beef bourguignon, french onion soup, and Vichyssoise, while the Italian Army experimented with canned ravioli, spaghetti bolognese, minestrone, and pasta e fagioli. After the war, companies that had supplied military canned food began to improve the quality of their goods for civilian sale.
Methods
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The original fragile and heavy glass containers presented challenges for transportation, and glass jars were largely replaced in commercial canneries with cylindrical
Can openers were not invented for another thirty years. At first, soldiers would cut the cans open with bayonets or smash them open with rocks.[citation needed] Today, tin-coated steel is the material most commonly used. Aseptically processed retort pouches are also used for canning.
Glass jars have remained popular for some high-value products and in home canning.
Microbial control
To prevent the food from being spoiled before and during containment, a number of methods are used: pasteurisation, boiling (and other applications of high temperature over a period of time), refrigeration, freezing, drying, vacuum treatment, antimicrobial agents that are natural to the recipe of the foods being preserved, a sufficient dose of ionizing radiation, submersion in a strong saline solution, acid, base, osmotically extreme (for example very sugary) or other microbially-challenging environments.
Other than sterilization, no method is perfectly dependable as a preservative. Sterilization is done after the can is sealed, so that both the container and the food are secured.
The spores of the microorganism
Sealing: double seams
Invented in 1888 by Max Ams,
Double seaming uses rollers to shape the can, lid and the final double seam. To make a sanitary can and lid suitable for double seaming, manufacture begins with a sheet of coated tin plate. To create the can body, rectangles are cut and curled around a die, and welded together creating a cylinder with a side seam.
Rollers are then used to flare out one or both ends of the cylinder to create a quarter circle flange around the circumference. Precision is required to ensure that the welded sides are perfectly aligned, as any misalignment will cause inconsistent flange shape, compromising its integrity.
A circle is then cut from the sheet using a die cutter. The circle is shaped in a stamping press to create a downward countersink to fit snugly into the can body. The result can be compared to an upside down and very flat top hat. The outer edge is then curled down and around about 140 degrees using rollers to create the end curl.
The result is a steel tube with a flanged edge, and a countersunk steel disc with a curled edge. A
Seaming
The body and end are brought together in a seamer and held in place by the base plate and chuck, respectively. The base plate provides a sure footing for the can body during the seaming operation and the chuck fits snugly into the end (lid). The result is the countersink of the end sits inside the top of the can body just below the flange. The end curl protrudes slightly beyond the flange.
First operation
Once brought together in the seamer, the seaming head presses a first operation roller against the end curl. The end curl is pressed against the flange curling it in toward the body and under the flange. The flange is also bent downward, and the end and body are now loosely joined together. The first operation roller is then retracted. At this point five thicknesses of steel exist in the seam. From the outside in they are:
- End
- Body Hook
- Cover Hook
- Body
- Countersink
Second operation
The seaming head then engages the second operation roller against the partly formed seam. The second operation presses all five steel components together tightly to form the final seal. The five layers in the final seam are then called; a) End, b) Body Hook, c) Cover Hook, d) Body, e) Countersink. All sanitary cans require a filling medium within the seam because otherwise the metal-to-metal contact will not maintain a hermetic seal. In most cases, a rubberized compound is placed inside the end curl radius, forming the critical seal between the end and the body.
Probably the most important innovation since the introduction of double seams is the welded side seam. Prior to the welded side seam, the can body was folded and/or soldered together, leaving a relatively thick side seam. The thick side seam required that the side seam end juncture at the end curl to have more metal to curl around before closing in behind the Body Hook or flange, with a greater opportunity for error.
Seamer setup and quality assurance
Many different parts during the seaming process are critical in ensuring that a can is airtight and vacuum sealed. The dangers of a can that is not hermetically sealed are contamination by foreign objects (bacteria or fungicide sprays), or that the can could leak or spoil.
One important part is the seamer setup. This process is usually performed by an experienced technician. among the parts that need setup are seamer rolls and chucks which have to be set in their exact position (using a feeler gauge or a clearance gauge). The lifter pressure and position, roll and chuck designs, tooling wear, and bearing wear all contribute to a good double seam.
Incorrect setups can be non-intuitive. For example, due to the
Quality control usually involves taking full cans from the line – one per seamer head, at least once or twice per shift, and performing a teardown operation (wrinkle/tightness), mechanical tests (external thickness, seamer length/height and countersink) as well as cutting the seam open with a twin blade saw and measuring with a double seam inspection system. The combination of these measurements will determine the seam's quality.
Use of a statistical process control (SPC) software in conjunction with a manual double-seam monitor, computerized double seam scanner, or even a fully automatic double seam inspection system makes the laborious process of double seam inspection faster and much more accurate. Statistically tracking the performance of each head or seaming station of the can seamer allows for better prediction of can seamer issues, and may be used to plan maintenance when convenient, rather than to simply react after bad or unsafe cans have been produced.[14]
Nutritional value
Canning is a way of processing food to extend its shelf life. The idea is to make food available and edible long after the processing time. A 1997 study found that canned fruits and vegetables are as rich with dietary fiber and vitamins as the same corresponding fresh or frozen foods, and in some cases the canned products are richer than their fresh or frozen counterparts.[15] The heating process during canning appears to make dietary fiber more soluble, and therefore more readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts. Canned tomatoes have a higher available lycopene content. Consequently, canned meat and vegetables are often among the list of food items that are stocked during emergencies.[16]
Potential hazards
In the beginning of the 19th century the process of canning foods was mainly done by small canneries. These canneries were full of overlooked sanitation problems, such as poor hygiene and unsanitary work environments. Since the refrigerator did not exist and industrial canning standards were not set in place it was very common for contaminated cans to slip onto the grocery store shelves.[17]
According to The Fruits of Empire: Art, Food and the Politics of Race in the Age of American Expansion by Shana Klein, "Workers also suffered injuries, specifically bruised knuckles and open sores, from trimming and packaging pineapples. Gloves were one preventative measure to protect a canner's hands from the acidity of the pineapple, but gloves did not always help."[18]
Migration of can components
In canning toxicology, migration is the movement of substances from the can itself into the contents.[19] Potential toxic substances that can migrate are lead, causing lead poisoning, or bisphenol A (BPA), a potential endocrine disruptor that is an ingredient in the epoxy commonly used to coat the inner surface of cans. Some cans are manufactured with a BPA-free enamel lining produced from plant oils and resins.[20] In February 2018, the Can Manufacturers Institute, a trade association in the United States, surveyed the industry and reported that at least 90% of food cans no longer contained BPA.[21]
Salt content
Salt (sodium chloride), dissolved in water, is used in the canning process.[22][dubious ] As a result, canned food can be a major source of dietary salt.[23] Too much salt increases the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure. Therefore, health authorities have recommended limitations of dietary sodium.[24][25][26][27][28] Many canned products are available in low-salt and no-salt alternatives.
Rinsing thoroughly after opening may reduce the amount of salt in canned vegetables, since much of the salt content is thought to be in the liquid, rather than the food itself.[29]
Botulism
Foodborne
Canning and economic recession
Canned goods and canning supplies sell particularly well in times of recession due to the tendency of financially stressed individuals to engage in
would also be interested in stockpiling canned food upon learning about a recession.In February 2009 during a recession, the United States saw an 11.5% rise in sales of canning-related items.[34]
Some communities in the US have county canning centers which are available for teaching canning, or shared community kitchens which can be rented for canning one's own foods.[35]
Occupation
See also
- Amanda Jones, inventor of a vacuum method of canning.
- Steel and tin cans, most commonly associated with canned food
- Home canning
- Canned fish
- Food industry
- Food preservation
- Canned water
- List of canneries
- Canstruction non-profit organisation
Notes
- ^ According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), "canned foods are safe indefinitely as long as they are not exposed to freezing temperatures, or temperatures above 90 °F (32.2 °C)". If the cans look okay, they are safe to use. Discard cans that are dented, rusted, or swollen. High-acid canned foods (tomatoes, fruits) will keep their best quality for 12 to 18 months; low-acid canned foods (meats, vegetables) for 2 to 5 years.[1]
References
- ^ "Food_Product_Dating". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Arctic Explorers Uncover (and Eat) 60-Year-Old Food Stash". Smithsonian. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ Blumenthal, Dale (September 1990). "The Canning Process; Old Preservation Technique Goes Modern". FDA Consumer. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019.
- ^ (in French) appert-aina.com Archived 7 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Jesse D. Dagoon, 1989; p. 2.
- ^ Geoghegan, Tom (21 April 2013). "The story of how the tin can nearly wasn't". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ A brief account of Bryan Donkin FRS and the company he founded 150 years ago. Bryan Donkin Company, Chesterfield, 1953
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ "Canned Food Sealed Icemen's Fate". History Today.
- S2CID 131781828.
- ^ "Researchers acquit the tins in mysterious failed Franklin expedition". Phys.org.
- ^ William Schafer (9 January 2009). "Home Canning Tomatoes". Extension.umn.edu. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ Mark Q. Sutton, Archaeological laboratory methods: an introduction Archived 4 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Kendall/Hunt Pub., 1996, p. 172
- ^ Quality Assurance for the Food Industry: A Practical Approach by J. Andres Vasconcellos
- .
- ^ "Food Supplies To Stock For Emergencies". earthquake-survival-kits.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ^ Petrick, G. (2008). Feeding the masses: H.J. Heinz and the creation of industrial food. Endeavour, 33(1), 29–34.
- OCLC 1133661556.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ISBN 978-0-08-095041-9. Archivedfrom the original on 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Can-Don't: Cooking Canned Foods in Their Own Containers Comes with Risks". Scientific American. 2017. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017. Accessed 2017-10-17
- ^ McTigue Pierce, Lisa (20 February 2018). "Most food cans no longer use BPA in their linings". Packaging Digest.
- ^ Definition of brine Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine, BusinessDictionary
- ^ "Sodium (Salt or Sodium Chloride)". American Heart Association. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010.
- ^ "American Heart Association 2010 Dietary Guidelines" (PDF). 2010 Dietary Guidelines. American Heart Association. 23 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand – Sodium". Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council/ New Zealand Ministry of Health. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Dietary Guidelines focus on sodium intake, sugary drinks, dairy alternatives". Food Navigator-usa.com. Decision News Media. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Sodium Chloride". Eat Well, Be Well. UK Government Food Standards Agency. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "Health Canada, Healthy Living, Sodium". Healthy Living. Health Canada. 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
- ^ "How to Remove Sodium From Canned Vegetables". Livestrong.com. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b Botox and Botulism? Beauty and the Beast? Archived 28 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine From Ingrid Koo, PhD, for About.com. Updated: 16 December 2008
- ^ PMID 16163636.
- ^ "Home-Canned Foods | Botulism". CDC. 14 July 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Bowles, Nellie (24 April 2020). "I Used to Make Fun of Silicon Valley Preppers. Then I Became One - In tech circles, gearing up for the apocalypse was a cliché. Now it's a credential". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
- ^ Gregory, Sean (11 March 2009). "What Sells in a Recession: Canned Goods and Condoms". Time. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ Canneries, Canning Centers, Community Kitchens, Commercial Kitchens for Rent, Local Canning Resources and Food Business Incubators – Commercial Canning for Your Home Produce Archived 18 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Pickyourown.org
Further reading
- FDA 21 CFR 113.3 Thermally processed low acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers Revision Apr. 2006
- Potter, N. N. and Hotchkiss, J. H. Food Science (5th ed). Springer, 1999
- Fellows, P. J. Food Processing Technology: Principles and Practice (2nd Edition). Woodhead Pub. 1999
- Zeide, Anna (6 March 2018). Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520290686.
External links
- National Center for Home Food Preservation
- Boston Public Library, USA. Canned food advertisements, various dates