Advantages:
Intermediate moisture foods have an aw range of 0.65-0.90, and thus watier activty is their primary hurdle to achieving microbial stability and safety. IMF foods are easy to prepare and store without refrigeration. They are energy efficient and relatively cheap. They are not readily subject to spoilage, even if packages have been damaged prior to opening, as with thermostabilized foods, because of low aw. This is a plus for many developing countries, especially those in tropical climates with inadequate infrastructure for processing and storage, and offers marketing advantages for consumers all over the world.
equilibrium relative humidity
microbial stability
thermostabilized