Tinned Chicken Soup

[LeedsRhinos]

My young daughter asked me why the chunks of chicken in tinned chicken soup doesn't need to be refrigerated. I don't know can anyone please shed some light? Is it just because it is in a tin a no bacteria can get to it? TIA

[VillageVicar]

The canning process seals the air within the tin. When the soup contents are placed in the tin, it�s warm. As the temperature cools a minor vacuum occurs within the tin, thus preventing bacteria from developing.

Also, which is not very nice to know, certain preservatives may have been included to extend the shelf-life of the product. Finally, there is an additional process called irradiation, or �ionizing.� Using something that resembles the back of an old television picture tube, it points like a gun at the food and penetrates it, sterilising the contents. This protects the �chicken chunks� from deteriorating.

You can help your daughter do her own discovery process by looking at certain products in the supermarket. Bacon, for example is shrink-wrapped, thus removing the air and allowing it to have a longer shelf-life. And there are now many products that have gone through a combination of processes which eliminate the necessity of refrigeration.

Clearly, you have a precocious young lady in your midst! What a gift! I wish you very best regards.

Fr Bill

[arduncan2002]

Here's a hint ; cooked food lasts longer than raw in the fridge. When pre-cooked food is in a vacuum (tin) it will last for years...

[Zeddy]

Vicar, the UK in general does NOT irradiate foods. Exceptions to this are spices and some other dried foodstuffs.
It is a legal requirement for all irradiated food to have a declaration on its labelling to state this fact. Look and see how many cans say this.

Try this site for some simple guidance on canning:

http://www.westlerfoods.com/pdf/canning_proces s.pdf

[VillageVicar]

Hey Zeddy! I agree. However, because our borders have more or less collapsed now (as far as shopping goes), you'll find an increasing number of iirradiated foods. Just a browse through a group such as Lidl or Aldi will show that.

I find the process fascinating, but certainly a concerning one. I think time has moved on sufficiently now to sugges the original concerns are moot. But we never really know, do we? Thanks for the addendum!

Fr Bill