Abstract: A heat-shrinkable multilayer film suitable for use in the packaging of primal meat cuts wherein the first outer layer comprises a blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, propylene-ethylene copolymer, and 1-butene-ethylene copolymer; a core layer comprising a vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymer; and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

Abstract: The growth of Clostridium botulinum and the production of enterotoxin in comminuted meat products is inhibited by adding to such products an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of hypophosphorous acid and non-toxic salts thereof in combination with minor amounts of sodium nitrite.

Abstract: The growth of Clostridium botulinum and the production of enterotoxin in corned beef and poultry products is inhibited by adding to such products an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of hypophosphorous acid and nontoxic water-soluble salts thereof in combination with minor amounts of sodium nitrite.

Abstract: A method for processing pork skins in which a liquid smoke and a curing solution are applied to the skins after which they are continuously passed on a conveyor belt through an enclosure containing heat which is regulated so that the skins are cured and smoked. The temperature of the skins is controlled so that the skins are cured and smoked but are not rendered or popped.

Abstract: A meat product having reduced shrinkage upon cooking is prepared by treating meat with an aqueous solution of an edible chloride salt present at at least about 0.2 molal. The solution is first electrolyzed by passage of a direct current through it to prepare an electrolyzed moisturizing solution having moisturizing activity. The electrolyzed moisturizing solution is cooled to a temperature of no higher than about 30.degree. F., while maintaining its moisturizing activity, to form an electrolyzed moisturizing composition. While maintaining moisturizing activity, the electrolyzed moisturizing composition and meat are thereafter combined and maintained in contact until moisturized meat is formed, and the moisturized meat is then recovered.

Abstract: A cooked meat product having reduced shrinkage after refrigeration is prepared by treating hot meat with an aqueous solution of an edible chloride salt present at at least about 0.5 weight percent. The solution is first electrolyzed by passage of a direct current through it to prepare an electrolyzed moisturizing solution having moisturizing activity. The electrolyzed moisturizing solution is cooled to a temperature of no higher than about 30.degree. F., while maintaining its moisturizing activity, to form an electrolyzed moisturizing composition. The electrolyzed moisturizing composition and hot meat are thereafter combined and maintained in contact until the external meat temperature is lowered to about 70.degree.-110.degree. F. to form externally cooled meat which is refrigerated and then recovered.

Abstract: There is provided a method for tenderizing cut portions of meat, wherein the portions are slit by passing the portions into a plurality of rotating slitting blades having a plurality of discrete cutting surfaces on each slitting blade along the periphery thereof. A series of closely spaced first cut slits are produced from at least one surface into the said portions. The portions are then sprayed with a tenderizer solution containing a tenderizing phosphate, and the solution penetrates into and is retained in the said first slits. Further slitting of the portions is achieved by passing the portions into a further assembly of the rotating slitting blades and a series of closely spaced further cut slits are placed on the portions. The further slits are close to or in part overlap the first slits and the solution penetrates from or flows from the first slits into the said further slits during the further slitting and subsequent thereto. Immediately thereafter the portions are packaged and fast frozen.

Abstract: A bacon analogue and similar multi-phased meat products which can duplicate the texture, appearance and content of natural bacon and other multi-phased meat products is obtained by preparing a comminuted fat component which is treated with a curing pickle and preparing a separate comminuted lean component which may be mixed with optional additives such as flavoring, seasoning and preservatives and thereafter utilized to form a layered product by such processes as extruding the comminuted fat and lean components through a predetermined forming die to unite the fat and lean components to form a bacon analogue or other such multi-phased meat products. This multi-phased meat analogue may then be placed in pans and heated, smoked and cured and then be cooled, sliced and packaged and thereafter be ultimately used and cooked like natural multi-phased meat products.

Abstract: Trimmed animal tongues are soaked in unheated edible acid, precooked in hot edible acid and then skinned.

Abstract: The growth of Clostridium botulinum and the production of enterotoxin in smoked meat products, such as bacon, is inhibited by adding to the meat products a compound selected from the group consisting of hypophosphorous acid and sodium potassium, calcium and manganese salts thereof.

Abstract: An extremely rapid, economical and safe method of producing dry sausages comprising adding natural bactericides and bacteriostats to comminuted meats in an amount sufficient to at least inhibit growth of the generally encountered pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms in such meats, admixing a given amount of at least one acidulating material to such meats and forming sausages from such acidulated meats so that a pH of less than about 5.7 is attained within said sausages, thermally treating the sausages under time-temperature conditions sufficient to attain an average internal temperature within each sausage of at least about 58.degree. C. and subjecting the thermally-treated sausages to a controlled drying environment having relatively high temperatures and relatively low relative humidity for a period of time sufficient to reduce the moisture level in each of such sausages to a maximum of approximately 35%.

Abstract: The growth of Clostridium botulinum and the production of enterotoxin in smoked fish is inhibited by adding to the fish a compound selected from the group consisting of hypophosphorous acid and sodium, potassium, calcium and manganese salts thereof. Such additive may be present in combination with minor amounts of sodium nitrite.

Abstract: Meat having minimal shrinkage upon cooking is prepared by treating meat with an aqueous solution of an edible chloride salt present at at least about 0.2 molal. The solution is first electrolyzed by passage of a direct current through said solution until at least 25 coulombs per liter of solution have passed therethrough. The meat and electrolyzed solution are then combined and maintained in contact until moisturized meat is formed, and the moisturized meat then recovered. The minimally shrinkage meat food product and an apparatus for its production are also disclosed.

Abstract: A partially dehydrated food product, especially sliced bacon, that results in improved cooked yield and reduced shrinkage is prepared by subjecting the product to hydration with a curing solution and then to vacuum dehydration conditions to partially, but not totally, reduce the moisture content without substantially affecting the other food components.

Abstract: A process for preparing ground meat by providing a supply of meat chunks, and an aqueous solution of sodium chloride; passing a direct electric current through the solution until the resulting solution pH is raised to at least 8.5; combining, admixing and agitating the meat chunks and resulting solution while the resulting solution pH is at least about 8.5 and until the resulting solution is sorbed by said meat chunks; and then grinding said meat chunks.

Abstract: A process for preparing ground meat by providing a supply of meat chunks, and an aqueous solution of an edible chloride salt; passing a direct electric current through the solution until the resulting solution pH is raised to at least about 8; combining, admixing and agitating the meat chunks and resulting solution while the resulting solution pH is at least about 8 and until the resulting solution is sorbed by said meat chunks; and then grinding said meat chunks.

Abstract: A process for binding pieces of cooked meat together to produce a unitary product by impregnating pieces of uncooked meat with an aqueous solution containing a source of phosphate ions, cooking the meat, coating the cooked meat with an edible, heat-settable, thermostable glue containing an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of mono-diglycerides derived from stearic acid and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate, compacting the coated pieces of meat and heating the compacted pieces of meat to obtain a product which on reheating remains cohesive.

Abstract: An improved process for curing meats is disclosed wherein the meat is bathed in a recycling pickle solution sorbing pickling agents relative to water, desorbing water and proteinaceous materials relative to pickling agents, the sorbing and desorbing changing with time the voltage reading of a pH meter having a hydrogen ion detecting electrode immersed in the pickle solution, the improvement being the placement of an ion emitter into the pickle solution to emit ions therein to anionically charge at least a portion of the pickling agents, and return the voltage reading toward its initial value.

Abstract: A plurality of needles is injected into a food product to create a plurality of cavity voids in said product, and a metered quantity of fluid is injected through said needles into said cavity voids while said needles are within said food product, said quantity of fluid being metered to be equal substantially to the volume of said cavity voids.

Abstract: A canned food product for use with dry pet foods or to use alone is composed of a nutritionally fortified liquid gravy and blood based, retort stable, metal-like chunks.

Abstract: A meat pickling method whereby meat pieces are placed in a container with brine, the container is pressurized with nitrogen gas and rotated. Subsequently, a vacuum is applied to the interior of the container and then the container is swept with nitrogen gas. Atmospheric pressure is then established in the container, the rotation stopped and the meat removed.

Abstract: A process for the discoloration of animal blood in which whole blood or red blood corpuscles separated from whole blood by centrifugal action is carried in a fat milieu to which milk or vegetable protein is added and mixed. The mixture is then subjected to a considerable drop in pressure resulting in a reaction in which the red blood corpuscles are covered by a protein/fat film and thereby discolored. The drop in pressure is preferably in the order of 200-300 atmospheres and may take place in a homogenizer. The mixture of blood, fat, water and protein is preferably heated to a temperature in the range of 30.degree.-70.degree. before being fed to the homogenizer.

Abstract: A bacon analogue and similar multi-phased meat products which can duplicate the texture, appearance and content of natural bacon and other multi-phased meat products is obtained by preparing a comminuted fat component which is treated with a curing pickle and preparing a separate comminuted lean component which may be mixed with optional additives such as flavoring, seasoning and preservatives and thereafter extruding the comminuted fat and lean components through a predetermined forming die to unite the fat and lean components to form a bacon analogue or other such multi-phased meat product. This multi-phased meat analogue may then be placed in pans and heated, smoked and cured and then be cooled, sliced and packaged and thereafter be ultimately used and cooked like natural multi-phased meat products.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a superior flavor in fermented meat, particularly sausage, using Micrococcus varians in admixture with Pediococcus cerevisiae NRRL-B-5627 and/or with other lactic acid producing meat fermenting bacteria for lowering the pH is described. Micrococcus varians is a very poor producer of lactic acid and alone cannot produce acceptable sausage. The improved bacterial compositions develop the solid bright red color associated with sausage and other fermented meats in the presence of edible nitrate and/or edible nitrite. Combinations of the nitrite and nitrate can be used. No acid forming chemicals, such as gluconic acid delta lactone, are used in the fermentation process. The bacterial composition is preferably provided in the form of a frozen cell concentrate for storage and subsequent thawing for use.

Abstract: A novel cured meat spread prepared by partial size reduction of fresh or frozen, raw meat, partial heating to accomplish protein coagulation, followed by further size reduction, addition of cure and seasoning, completion of heating and hot packaging. In a preferred embodiment, the meat is ham and the fat content thereof is adjusted into the range of 20-35% by total weight of the final product.

Abstract: A method is provided for curing fresh primal cuts of meat intended for consumption by those on a low sodium diet which includes the step of subjecting a fresh primal cut to an aqueous curing solution substantially free of (a) organic nitrites and (b) chloride, phosphate, nitrate and sodium ions and containing from about 0.005 to about 0.40 percent by weight of a nitrite selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrite, ammonium nitrite, nitrous acid and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A semi-moist food containing an animal protein source is color stabilized by reacting carbon monoxide with the animal protein source, to provide a satisfactory color.

Abstract: Dry mixes for use with ground meat and water to provide products in the nature of lunchmeat specialities. The dry mix compositions include starch or a starch source material, a two component protein ingredient, a meat curing agent, an alkaline phosphate salt and sodium chloride. Processes for preparing products from the dry mixes.

Abstract: The red color of fresh red meats is preserved by adding thereto a color preservative selected from the group consisting of sodium cyanate, acetylurea, sodium-5-acetylhydantoate, urethylane sodium carboxylate and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, these color preservatives are incorporated in a resinous polymeric film which is fibrillated to provide an open-celled, microporous structure having a large internal surface area. Such films can be used as an interleaf between layers of slices of freshly cut red meat and are effective for preserving the fresh color for several hours.

Abstract: Formulating a retart stable, red color in an animal protein source by slurrying the protein, adding a reducing agent, reacting with carbon monoxide and recovering the stabilized red color. The stabilized color is used in moist pet food.

Abstract: Meats are effectively pumped in excess of 140% of their green weights, yet maintain their original proteinaceous posture and nutritional value by a critically controlled preparation and injection of a protein medium. A salt tolerance protein isolate is hydrated in water and subsequently curing salts are admixed to the hydrated salt tolerant protein isolate. Upon curing the liquid medium, which has been pumped into the meat, cooks to a uniformly distributed, meat-like gel, the extra pumped meat product maintains the same nutritional protein value and substantially identical textural properties of natural meat tissue, the protein substantially retains its hydrated form in the final product and there is substantially no protein separation.

Abstract: A method is provided for inhibiting microbial spoilage and discoloration of edible meat comprising contacting the external surfaces of said meat with an aqueous hypochlorous acid solution, the solution being at a pH related to the elapsed time after the slaughter of the meat animal so that the growth of salmonella organisms is inhibited.

Abstract: Meats are effectively pumped in excess of 140% of their green weights, yet maintain their original proteinaceous posture and nutritional value by a critically controlled preparation and injection of a protein medium. A salt .[.tolerance.]. .Iadd.tolerant .Iaddend.protein isolate is hydrated in water and subsequently curing salts are admixed to the hydrated salt tolerant protein isolate. Upon curing the liquid medium, which has been pumped into the meat, cooks to a uniformly distributed, meat-like gel, the extra pumped meat product maintains the same nutritional protein value and substantially identical textural properties of natural meat tissue, the protein substantially retains its hydrated form in the final product and there is substantially no protein separation.