High-pressure cold pasteurization of tobacco material

Abstract

A tobacco material having at least about 40% water based on the total weight, and having a storage stability of at least about 25 days is provided herein, wherein the storage stability is defined as an aerobic plate count below about 3,000,000 CFU/g. A method of treating a tobacco material to enhance storage stability is also provided herein, the method including receiving a tobacco material having at least about 40% water based on the total weight and subjecting the tobacco material to a process pressure of at least about 30,000 psi to form a high pressure processed tobacco material, wherein the high pressure processed tobacco material has a storage stability of at least about 25 days, and wherein the storage stability is defined as an aerobic plate count below about 3,000,000 CFU/g.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.