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Army Pizza Created With Hurdle Technology Can Last Up To Three Years

By R. Siva Kumar | Update Date: Feb 15, 2016 02:16 AM EST

U.S. soldiers love and demand a lot of pizza, but it has a short shelf life, which isn't too kind to the army.

But recently, researchers created a ready-made pizza that can last for three years, reports the Daily Mail.

The team prevented the bacteria from forming, so it will remain edible for three years. It will also taste just like "day after pizza," Lauren Oleksyk, a food technologist at the U.S. Army's Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center said. "It's a fully assembled and baked piece of pizza in one package," he explained to Tech Insider.

With Hurdle Technology, the team has enabled the elimination and control of pathogens in food. It also manages the acidity, oxygen and water content, and also checks that there is a proper layering of ingredients. After a number of tests, the team collected information on its color, texture and baseline data. It was then placed in a chamber at 100 degrees for six months so that its storage could be stimulated for three years at 80 degrees.

"The only difference is in the sauce," said Oleksyk. "We control the pH so it's a little more acidic."

The product will be released in 2017. The pizzas will also be accompanied by heaters that could be activated by water, which would warm them when needed. But it can also be eaten cold.

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