Food Processing Unit Operations Questions and Answers - Thermal Processing

1. _________ is defined as the time taken at a given temperature to eliminate at least 90% of the exposed microorganisms.
a) F0 value
b) Thermal death time
c) D value
d) Z value

  Discussion

Answer: c
Explanation: D value is defined as the time taken at a given temperature to eliminate at least 90% of the exposed microorganisms. It is suitable to examine the efficiency of thermal inactivation of different microbes under different conditions.

2. ________ is the time taken to kill a specific bacterium at a specific temperature.
a) F0 value
b) Thermal death time
c) D value
d) Z value

  Discussion

Answer: b
Explanation: Thermal death time which is also known as TDT is defined as the time taken to destroy a specific microbe at a particular temperature. TDT is used in regulating the sterilization procedures.

3. _______ of a microorganism is the lowest temperature at which all microbes are killed in a 10-minute exposure.
a) F0 value
b) Thermal death time
c) D value
d) Thermal death point

  Discussion

Answer: d
Explanation: Thermal death point is be defined as the lowest temperature at which all the microorganisms are killed in a 10-minute exposure and it varies depending on the microbes. Thermal death point gives the idea of the effect of heat on the microbes.

4. Are these statements about the D value true?
Statement 1: D -value is lower in acid foods.
Statement 2: D-value for the same organism varies depending on the food type.
a) True, False
b) True, True
c) False, True
d) False, False

  Discussion

Answer: b
Explanation: D value is defined as the time taken at a given temperature to eliminate at least 90% of the exposed microorganisms. It is suitable to examine the efficiency of thermal inactivation of different microbes under different conditions. D-value for the same microbes differs depending on the food type. In acid foods, the D value is lower and higher in protein rich foods.

5. __________ is used mainly in low acid canned foods.
a) 12 D concept
b) 1 D concept
c) 10 D concept
d) 100 D concept

  Discussion

Answer: a
Explanation: 12D concept is used generally in low acid canned foods. It refers to thermal processing to reduce the probability of survival of the C. botulinum spores to 10-12 which is high resistant microbe at 121oC.

6. ______ is the better way of stating thermal death time.
a) F0 value
b) F value
c) D value
d) Z value

  Discussion

Answer: b
Explanation: Thermal death time which is also known as TDT is defined as the time taken to destroy a specific microbe at a particular temperature. F value is defined as the time required killing all spores or vegetative cells at 1210oC. Therefore F value is the better way of stating thermal death time.

7. _________ is equal to the reciprocal of the slope of the thermal death time curve.
a) F0 value
b) F value
c) D value
d) Z value

  Discussion

Answer: d
Explanation: Z-value is used in the microbial thermal death time calculations. It is defined as the temperature (in degree) at which a tenfold reduction in D-value is attained. It is equal to the reciprocal of the slope of the thermal death time curve.

8. Heat resistance of microorganisms and their spores can be expressed in terms of _______
a) F0 value
b) thermal death time
c) D value
d) thermal death point

  Discussion

Answer: b
Explanation: Heat resistance of microorganisms and their spores can be expressed in terms of thermal death time. Microorganisms are more heat resistant than their spores. Heat resistance of ascospores is 60°C for 10-15 min and the heat resistant of vegetative yeast is 50-58°C in 10-15 min.

9. The pasteurization process was named after ______________
a) Louis Pasteur
b) Charles Chamberland
c) Nicolas Appert
d) Clarence Birdseye

  Discussion

Answer: a
Explanation: The pasteurization process was developed by Louis Pasteur. Charles Chamberland developed the first pressure steam sterilizer. Nicolas Appert is the father of food technology. Clarence Birdseye developed processes for freezing fish based on quick freezing.

10. Are these statements about the pasteurization true?
Statement 1: Calcium absorption is changed with pasteurization.
Statement 2: Niacin is totally lost during pasteurization.
a) True, False
b) True, True
c) False, True
d) False, False

  Discussion

Answer: d
Explanation: The calcium absorption is not changed during the pasteurization process. Similarly, niacin , riboflavin, vitamin A and vitamin D are not affected by the this process. There is a minimal loss of thiamine and vitamin B12.