Abstract:Pre-prepared foods are finished or semi-finished products derived from edible raw materials with a certain shelf life, and its industry has witnessed rapid development in recent years. Here, the definition, classification, development status, technical difficulties, market size, and major enterprises of pre-prepared foods are summarized, and their development trends are explored. The current major industrial provinces include Guangdong, Shandong, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Henan. The technical difficulties faced by the pre-prepared food industry primarily include food safety, sensory quality, nutritional quality, health functions, raw material quality control and traceability systems, quick freezing and thawing technology, packaging materials and technology, and intelligent equipment. Standardization, market segmentation, and cultivation and delivery of high-quality professionals and technical talent are expected to be the development direction of the pre-prepared food industry. This review can serve as a reference to guide scientific research and industry development in the field of pre-prepared foods.
