Thermal processing, specifically retort processing, has been
used as a common preservation technique in food industry for shelf
stable low acid foods. Commercial retort processing ensures
a reduction or inactivation of spore-forming microorganisms
sufficient to guarantee commercial sterility. The United States Code
of Federal Regulations defines commercial sterility as ‘‘The condition
achieved by application of heat, chemical sterilant(s), or other
appropriate treatment that renders the equipment and containers
free of viable microorganisms having public health significance, as
well as microorganisms of nonhealth significance, capable of
reproducing in the food under normal nonrefrigerated conditions
of storage and distribution