Abstract: A method for reducing product breakage while filling a product into a package and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes reducing the momentum of product falling through a filling apparatus to reduce collisions of the product with other product and with the apparatus, thus reducing breakage. The vertical momentum, in one embodiment is transferred to horizontal momentum by imparting a swirling motion onto the product via swirling vanes located on the funnels. Because the product swirls in a controlled direction, collisions and breakage is effectively reduced. In another embodiment, the product encounters bumpers which absorb a portion of the products momentum and which prevent damaging collisions.