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The first major publication devoted exclusively to this topic, and edited by two leading researchers in the field, its comprehensive coverage of microbiological spoilage comes from contributors who have had long and successful careers in the food industry.

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The increased emphasis on food safety during the past two decades has decreased the emphasis on the loss of food through spoilage, particularly in developed co- tries where food is more abundant. In these countries spoilage is a commercial issue that affects the pro?t or loss of producers and manufacturers. In lesser developed countries spoilage continues to be a major concern. The amount of food lost to spoilage is not known. As will be evident in this text, stability and the type of spoilage are in?uenced by the inherent properties of the food and many other factors. During the Second World War a major effort was given to developing the te- nologies needed to ship foods to different regions of the world without spoilage. The food was essential to the military and to populations in countries that could not provide for themselves. Since then, progress has been made in improved product formulations, processing, packaging, and distribution systems. New products have continued to evolve, but for many new perishable foods product stability continues to be a limiting factor. Many new products have failed to reach the marketplace because of spoilage issues.

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Foreword.- Preface.- An Introduction to the Microbiological Spoilage of Foods and Beverages.- Microbiological Spoilage of Dairy Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of Meat and Poultry Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of Seafood Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of Eggs and Egg Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of Fruits and Vegetables.- Microbiological Spoilage of Canned Foods.- Microbiological Spoilage of Cereal Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of Beverages.- Microbiological Spoilage of Acidified Specialty Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of High-Sugar Products.- Microbiological Spoilage of Spices, Nuts, Cocoa, and Coffee.- Index.

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"For this Compendium, the editors have succeeded in bringing together a team of highly competent authors comprising 28 experts from the fields of university research, regulation, and legislation. ...For the first time, general information on the prevention and avoidance of food spoilage has been published in one comprehensive book devoted to this topic. ...In summary, this is an excellent and highly topical publication on ´food microbiology and safety´ that is enthusiastically recommended to all those interested in the subject." (Leopold Jirovetz, University of Vienna, in Die Ernährung/Nutrition )

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