Page "Food processing" Paragraph 5

Food processing dates back to the prehistoric ages when crude processing incorporated slaughtering, fermenting, sun drying, preserving with salt, and various types of cooking ( such as roasting, smoking, steaming, and oven baking ).

Salt-preservation was especially common for foods that constituted warrior and sailors ' diets, until the introduction of canning methods.

Evidence for the existence of these methods can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek, Chaldean, Egyptian and Roman civilizations as well as archaeological evidence from Europe, North and South America and Asia.

These tried and tested processing techniques remained essentially the same until the advent of the industrial revolution.

Examples of ready-meals also exist from preindustrial revolution times such as the Cornish pasty and Haggis.

During ancient times and today these are considered processing foods.

Food processing has also helped create quick, nutritious meals to give to busy families.