Dive Brief:
- 915 Labs' Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilization (MATS) technology could impact the processed foods industry by offering a new way to process and package foods while still offering consumers additive-free foods with clean labels.
- "The MATS natural food processing approach uses a patented microwave energy delivery system that very rapidly heats and sterilizes food, minimizing the damage that occurs from long heat times and eliminating the need for unnatural additives, enhancers and added salt. 915 Labs pairs the MATS system with state-of-the-art packaging solutions that maximize the natural flavor and quality of foods," according to a news release.
- The first commercial-scale MATS-150 system, which can process 150 food packages per minute, will start to be constructed in early 2016, and foods processed by this technology are expected to reach store shelves in early 2017.
Dive Insight:
"MATS has the potential to be one of the most important advancements in food processing technology," Zac Zeitlin, managing partner of New Ground Ventures, an investor in the company, said in a news release. "We are proud to support the company and its contribution to a healthier food system."
Clean labels are quickly transforming from a trend to a movement, as one in five products in one study was positioned with a clean label in 2014, which was a 17% increase from the year before.
Many companies have taken to removing artificial colors and flavors from their products or using simpler ingredients to promote a clean label, but reconsidering the processing methods used to manufacture products is another viable way for companies to identify ways to "clean" product labels.