RETORT STERILIZATION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR, PROVIDED WITH MEASURE AGAINST SERVICE INTERRUPTION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retort sterilization method and an apparatus therefor, provided with a measure against service interruption. SOLUTION: This retort sterilization method uses a retort sterilization apparatus provided with a product temperature monitoring system incorporated in a control section; a heating-side individual heat transfer coefficient (αH) and cooling-side individual heat transfer coefficient (αC) of a packed food, transfusion or the like, predetermined at a retort pot; and a means to determine an F value (Fc) from product temperature (tpc) simulated in real time, based on measured tank temperature (tw) transmitted from the retort sterilization apparatus, for controlling the F-value (Fc) in such a way that the sterilization step is stopped for the subsequent cooling step when the F-value reaches a control F-value (Fs) during the sterilization step, wherein the retort sterilization apparatus is provided with means for measuring service interruption time and tank temperature distribution even during the service interruption period, taking the lowest tank temperature during the service interruption period as the tank temperature during the service interruption period, and determining the F-value by counting the product temperature backward from this tank temperature, to continue the F-value control by restoring a planned sterilization temperature again after adding the F-value during the service interruption period to that before the service interruption period.