CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/949,165, filed Oct. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,224.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aseptic food processes. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing an aseptic heterogeneous food.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, shelf-stable soup has been packaged in a metal (tin) can due to thermal processing requirements. The soup is filled into the can and the can is sealed. The sealed can is placed on a rack with other cans, and the rack is rotated while being subjected to a predetermined temperature for sterilizing the product. Heterogeneous foods have been limited to such packaging technique because until recently this was the only process approved by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for shelf-stable heterogeneous foods.