Evaluating the Assertion and Reason concerning Methods of food preservation such as heat processing:

The correct answer is Option 1: Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

• Operating Pressures in High Pressure Processing (HPP):
• Commercial Parameters:
• High Pressure Processing (pascalization / cold isostatic pressing) subjects hermetically packaged foods submerged in water to pressures between 100 and 800 MPa ($1,000 - 8,000\text{ bar}$ or $14,500 - 116,000\text{ psi}$).
• Most commercial food cycles operate between $400$ and $600\text{ MPa}$ with dwell times of $2 - 5\text{ minutes}$ to inactivate vegetative pathogens and spoilage enzymes without heat.
• Conclusion: 100 to 800 MPa (Option 2).

Correct option: (2) 100 to 800 MPa

• Temperature Profiles in Air Blast Freezing:
• Operating Ranges:
• Air blast freezers circulate high-velocity cold air ($v = 2 - 6\text{ m/s}$) across food products in batch chambers or continuous spiral/tunnel freezers.
• Operating evaporator air temperatures typically range between $-18^\circ\text{C}$ and $-34^\circ\text{C}$ (down to $-40^\circ\text{C}$ for IQF blast tunnels), driving rapid heat removal and fine ice crystal formation.
• Conclusion: -18°C to -34°C (Option 1).

Correct option: (1) -18°C to -34°C