PROGRESS IN FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES - Food Collaboration with Refrigeration

摘要

Brief history of food refrigeration in Japan was presented, indicating the effects of epoch-making socioeconomic events on the national dietary habits since the end of the Second World War. The rice consumption fell its highest level of 118.3 kg/capita/year in 1962, to 75.7 kg/capita/year, mainly because of the growth in dispensable income which changed consumption patterns away from cereals toward non-cereal foods or to a westernized diet among the younger generation. In 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games demonstrated the convenience and high quality of refrigerated foods and resulted in the rapid progress of cold-chain system and refrigerated food production during 1960s. Although the oil shocks in 1973 and 1979 seriously damaged the industry, the stable consumption was maintained by increases in family restaurants and convenience stores starting 1985. The effects of social evolution of women on the developments of cooking appliances were also investigated in relation with the change in the demand of refrigerated foods. Consumer-oriented refrigeration science and technology will be required to develop the global food supply system for the aged society in near future.