Thermal processing & validation

Thermal processing is a vital industrial process step essential for safe and stable food and beverage products. Across the industry, thermal processes, or kill steps, are used for the elimination and/or reduction of microorganisms in products and should be fully embedded on the factory’s food safety management plan. A general understanding of thermal processing and its validation is critical for manufacturers, as well as for importers, suppliers and retailers of these products.

Attendees will develop an understanding of key thermal process principles, empowering them to validate, optimise and audit existing thermal processes, or even develop new ones. 

We give practical guidance, for example with process deviations and validation, as well as covering the theory such as thermal microbiology, processing methods and heat transfer, using a range of tutorials, group activities & practical demonstrations.

The training starts a more general foundation to the key principles on Day 1. Then we uniquely cater for those interested in either continuous flow processes (e.g. heat exchangers) or in-pack processes (e.g. retort) by providing different learning pathways on Day 2 of the course, depending on process methods they are most interested in. Every course is different, as we tailor it to the group depending on their answers to a pre-course questionnaire. 

We welcome a whole range of attendees: process or quality technologists and managers, developers, process authorities and other quality or technical staff working in food manufacturing. The training would also suit inspectors, including EHOs, third party auditors and retailers who review documentation and processes at manufacturer sites.

• Pasteurisation & sterilisation principles
• Thermal food microbiology
• Calculation of processes (F_o and P_u values) for batch & continuous processing
• Thermal processing methods, batch (e.g. retorting) & continuous (e.g. UHT)
• Process validation practicalities & analysis of data
• Critical factors for thermal processing
• Thermal process deviations & troubleshooting