Abstract: A shirred fibrous food casing defines a shirred stick formed from a tubular fibrous casing. The shirred stick includes an average outside diameter at least 120% of the average inflated diameter of the deshirred casing. Additionally, the shirred stick includes an average inside diameter of at least 70% of the casing inflated diameter and a pleat pitch defined as the distance between adjacent apexes of major pleats measured on the casing after the shirred stick is deshirred.

Abstract: A method for treating a shirred food casing strand, having a diameter, a circumference, a longitudinal axis, an external surface and a hollow bore along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis, which comprises smoothing said exterior surface by rolling said strand between at least three rollers, all of which simultaneously contact said surface at different lines of contact. It has been found that the simultaneous use of at least three different lines of contact during rolling, as opposed to two lines of contact, as might be applied by rolling between plates, helps preserve and even improve the roundness of the strand. The invention further comprises an apparatus for practicing the method of the invention which comprises at least three rollers arranged so as to contact the exterior surface of the strand and means for rolling the strand between said rollers. The invention further includes a shirred food casing strand having an external surface simultaneously rolled at at least three lines of contact.