Abstract: A food treatment system and method with a pressurization zone, a dwell zone, and a depressurization zone. A linear pocket feeder includes a number of sealed chambers each housing a food product driven through the pressurization zone, the dwell zone, and the depressurization zone in sequence. The pressurization zone includes at least one purge region to prevent dilution of treatment fluid and also treatment fluid injection regions to pressurize the sealed chambers in a controlled fashion. The depressurization zone includes treatment fluid ejection regions to depressurize the sealed chambers and remove the treatment fluid therefrom in a controlled fashion. The treatment fluid injection regions are in fluid communication with the treatment fluid ejection regions to conserve treatment fluid and to minimize power required for pressurization.