Ultrasound technology is used for the processing of various food products such as meat & food, fruits & vegetables, beverages, dairy, bakery & confectionery, and others (cereals, grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, spices, and packaged foods).
The global food ultrasound market is expected to grow at a considerable rate with the rising awareness about food quality, the demand for an extended shelf-life, and nutritional value in food. Further, the ultrasound technique has been emerging as a new trend in the food industry offering multiple functions such as quality assurance, microbial enzyme) inactivation, homogenization, emulsification, cutting, cleaning, drying, thawing, freezing, and others (drying, mixing, freezing, thawing, crystallization, filtration, pickling, marinating, sterilization, fermentation, pasteurization, and packaging). Market players are responding to new opportunities by expanding their global presence and product offerings. They are witnessing strong demand from the food processing industry due to its high reliability.
The global market for food ultrasound has grown exponentially in the last few years. The market was valued at USD 93.7 Million in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 134.6 Million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2017. Emerging economies such as India, China, Japan, South Africa, and Brazil are the potential primary markets of the industry. Concerns regarding food wastage and energy savings during food processing are prompting companies to adopt ultrasonic technology. The increasing R&D in the field of ultrasonic food processing to reduce wastage during processing and maintaining the quality of the food product is also one of the important drivers responsible for growth in this market.
Conventionally used thermal food processing technologies may lead to alteration in a product’s flavor, color, texture, or nutritional value. With the growing need for process efficiency and environment friendly technology, the demand for energy-efficient ultrasound technology has been increasing. Ultrasound technology aids in the retention of sensory attributes and increased productivity. It also accommodates the current consumer demand for natural, fresh, and minimally processed foods as no preservatives or additives are added to the products.
The food ultrasound market for food, based on frequency range, is segmented into low-intensity high-frequency and high-intensity low-frequency. The frequency to be used is chosen according to the food product to be processed and the function to be performed. Processes such as cleaning, microbial inactivation, and cutting can be performed through both high as well as low ultrasound frequency depending upon the sensitivity of the product being processed and the function which has to be performed.
By food product, the market is segmented into meat & seafood, fruits & vegetables, beverages, dairy, bakery & confectionery, and others. Bakery & confectionery include chocolates, cakes, cookies, and other confectionery products. Meat & seafood processing is the prominent market for ultrasound technology. The demand for ultrasonic food processing is driven by the growing demand for process efficiency through shortened processing time and energy-saving technology.
The market is dominated by players such as Bosch (Germany), Emerson (US), Bühler (Switzerland), Dukane (US), Heilscher (Germany), Siemens (Germany), and Newtech (UK). Other major players in the market include Cheersonic (China), Rinco Ultrasonics (Switzerland), Omni international (US), Sonics & Materials (US), Elliptical Design (UK), Marchant Schmidt (US), and Sonomechanics (US).
