Question

Define D value how is it useful in real life?

Answer 1

The D value means decimal reduction time or the decimal reduction dose, is the time period that is required to kill about 90 % of microorganisms at a given condition of temperature. The D value is been denoted as "D". It can also be defined as the heat / thermal resistance of specific microorganisms.

D value is useful in sterilizing or preserving the canned foods such as canned fish, meat etc. For destroying most of the spores in canned food ( eg Clostridium botulinum) , their heat resistance is been measured as 121.1 degree celcius and it is expressed in the D value. D value is also useful when examining the thermal inactivations of food cooking and preservation.