Thermostabilized: ÒthermoÓ means heat. Foods that are thermostabilized have been heated to destroy harmful <a href="Glossary">microbes</a>. Some foods, such as the tinned fruit and fish, have been thermostabilized in cans. They have easy-to-open, pull-off lids. Others are packaged in pouches, such as the beef goulash or the chunky chicken stew. The pouches are heated and then cut open with scissors.