A new trends report on ready-to-eat foods highlights the innovative microwave-assisted thermal sterilization (MATS) technology as a solution for meeting global demand for convenient and healthy foods.

Key findings from the report, which is published by Future in Focus, powered by Cognis Group, Washington, D.C., include:

• Consumers increasingly want to reconcile their often-conflicting demands for convenience and healthfulness in food products.
• New food preservation and processing technologies enable greater shelf stability without sacrificing taste or nutrition.
• Millennial consumers, in particular, will welcome foods that are both good for them, for society and for the world, and are ready to eat.