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• Consumption trends in developed countries
  Demand is increasing for safe, natural and convenient prepared/pre-cooked foods with a longer shelf life, high nutritional value and improved flavour and texture.
• Scientific findings and media information
  Safety issues are highlighted by consumer groups, scientific circles and actual outbreaks of food-borne infections, which the media treat as front-page news. The issues include GMO, BSE, heavy metal and pesticide residues, nitrate pollution, antibiotics, foot and mouth disease, dioxin, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli  O157:H7.
• Regulatory compliance
  Driven by consumers and their citizenship obligations, food manufacturers are investing more money in real-time micro-testing, new processes, risk management and other measures aimed at consumer protection.
• Economic impact
  Long, complex supply chains have created a need for a longer product shelf life during which the organoleptic quality is preserved. Product recalls due to microbial contamination are an ill-affordable expense that pose a major threat to manufacturer reputations. Public costs relate to medical treatment, sick leave, lost productivity and a damaged image on domestic and export markets.

Legal status varies from country to country. Local food regulations should always be consulted concerning the status of this product, as legislation regarding its use in food may vary from country to country.