That said, advances in ESL (extended shelf life) technology for fresh meat and poultry not only allow meatpackers to increasingly push back “sell-by” dates, but also help processors ensure their products are safe for consumption.
Preserving meat is a concept that has been around for centuries. Today, “ESL” is a term that refers to products that have been manufactured using a certain process or packaged in a specific way that allows them to be bought and stored for a longer period of time than traditional perishable items.