Abstract: A coextruded, heat shrinkable, thermoplastic multilayer film for packaging fresh red meat cuts and processed meats. The film is produced by coextruding a multilayer structure which includes a first layer comprising very low density polyethylene, a first core layer of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer, and a second layer comprising very low density polyethylene. In another embodiment the first layer is a second core layer confined between said first core layer and a first outer layer comprising a heat sealable thermoplastic polymer or copolymer. In a further embodiment the second layer is a second core layer confined between said first core layer and a second outer layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a heat shrinkable biaxially oriented thermoplastic film by extruding a primary tube including very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), heating the primary tube and biaxially stretching the heated primary tube using a double bubble method to form a tube which is heat shrinkable from about 30% to about 50% in at least one of the transverse and machine directions.

Abstract: A stuffing method and apparatus is disclosed which produces a stuffed log having a front end portion which is larger in diameter than the remainder of the log. This is accomplished by spacing the sizing disc and pressure ring apart when food product is first introduced into the casing and the immediately pressing the sizing disc and pressure ring together while stuffing the front end portion of the casing and then moving the sizing disc and pressure ring to a set predetermined distance apart and holding them in this position while stuffing the remainder of the product.

Abstract: A multilayer film is disclosed having improved heat sealing characteristics, comprising a first outer layer containing a heat sealable thermoplastic polymer having substantial freedom from cross-linking bonds, and a second layer containing a cross-linked ethylene polymer. In one embodiment the multilayer film is suitable for use in packaging primal and subprimal meat cuts, said film comprising a first outer layer containing a heat sealable thermoplastic polymer; a core layer comprising an oxygen barrier film; and a second outer layer comprising an ethylene polymer having siloxane cross-linking bonds. In another embodiment the multilayer film contains a second core layer containing an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, which is located between the barrier core layer and the second outer layer.

Abstract: Flexible tubular synthetic food casing shirred and compressed onto a rigid hollow tension sleeve core to a high packing efficiency to produce a combination casing stick tension sleeve article with provision on the tension sleeve to connect to a slacker mechanism on a stuffing apparatus.

Abstract: An aqueous natural liquid smoke impregnated food casing suitable for imparting smoke color to food products processed therein and method for making the same using an aqueous natural liquid smoke which is neutralized to a pH between about 5-9 to precipitate tar materials which are removed prior to impregnation.

Abstract: An article comprising a substrate such as cellulose casing, having thereon a desired indicia such as grill marks or a corporate logo. The indicia comprises an aluminum-organic dye lake and a binder-carrier, with the lake dispersed in the binder-carrier and bonded to the substrate by the binder-carrier in a moisture insensitive manner to form the indicia. The organic dye may for example be an FD&C color and the binder-carrier may for example be zein or shellac. The indicia is substantially completely transferable from the substrate to a contiguous edible surface in the presence of water. The food surface may for example be frankfurter and the transfer may for example take place during elevated temperature processing of the frankfurter emulsion in the cellulose casing.

Abstract: A cooked meat product is prepared using a tube of multilayer film comprising at least three layers including an inner layer with an inner surface, the latter comprising EVA with starch particles dispersed across the inner surface and integral therewith, the starch particle-containing EVA layer being irradiated. Uncooked meat is stuffed in the tube and during cooking the meat outer surface adheres to the tube inner surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for loading a shirred casing article into a stuffing horn tilted upwardly at a load position with respect to horizontal. The article is moved along a horizontal rail supported above the stuffing horn. The article spills over an end of a rail and onto a chute. The chute is in alignment with the upwardly tilted horn so that a driven member can engage the article and drive it down the chute onto the horn. The driven member is reversible so a spent casing article on the upwardly tilted horn can be unloaded by driving it up the chute to a positions here it spills over the upper end of the chute and discards.

Abstract: An oriented multilayer film comprising a barrier layer, a first layer on one side of said barrier layer and a second layer on the opposite side of said barrier layer is provided for use in food packaging applications. The first and second layers have melting points of at least about 115.degree. C. The barrier layer comprises amorphous nylon having a glass transition temperature greater than the higher of the two melting points or higher than the melting point of the first and second layers. The barrier layer is substantially impermeable to oxygen, while the first and second layers may comprise certain polyethylene resins. The oxygen barrier properties of the film do not deteriorate as the barrier layer gradually absorbs moisture. A process for making such multilayer films is also provided.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable, multilayer film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats. The multilayer film has a first outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film comprising vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer, and a second outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by co-extrusion of the layers, and then it is biaxially stretched. After biaxial stretching, the multilayer film is irradiated to a dosage level of between 1 megarad and 5 megarads and heat-sealed in the form of a bag. The bag has improved storage stability characteristics.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced cellulosic casing article with 40%-65% moisture, a first ketene dimer peeling aid coating on the casing inner surface, a second wood-derived tar-containing liquid smoke coating and precipitated tar having a single mode mass spectrometric distribution below 400 atomic mass units.

Abstract: The severing of a shirred stick from unshirred casing is accomplished by pressing and annular tear edge directly against the last-shirred end of the stick and tearing unshirred casing away from the stick along this edge. The result is little or no tail of loose casing at the last-shirred end. Characteristically, the resulting torn ends both extend normal to the casing longitudinal axis. In addition, this torn end at the first-shirred end of the stick is clean and continuous whereas the torn end at the last-shirred end of the stick contains one or more tags or loose shreds of casing.

Abstract: A moisturized cellulosic casing article with water activity of at least 0.80 and having in the casing wall and a spice-derived natural or synthetic equivalent antimycotic compound, such as eugenol or vanillin, imparting a food-related odor to the casing but at concentration below about 0.2 percent based on the total casing article weight.

Abstract: A shirred stick of cellulosic casing having an open end formed to a desired profile by burnishing. A portion of the surface of the stick bore adjacent the open end is part of the desired profile. The burnishing action forms the stick end to a surface of revolution which is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the stick.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a large size tubular cellulosic food casing suitable for being stuffed with a foodstuff without requiring an additional moisturizing step prior to stuffing, comprising the steps of providing a large size tubular cellulosic food casing including a plasticizer substantially uniformly incorporated therein; adjusting the moisture content of the casing to impart to the casing sufficient extensibility and flexibility for the casing to be stuffed without the addition of further moisture prior to the stuffing of said casing, and treating the casing with an antimycotic agent to incorporate a sufficient amount of the antimycotic agent in the casing to render the casing resistant to growth of molds, fungi, and microorganisms prior to the stuffing of the casing with the foodstuff.

Abstract: A heat-shrinkable, multilayer film suitable for use in fabricating bags for packaging primal and sub-primal meat cuts and processed meats. The multilayer film has a first outer layer of a first ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film including a polyvinylidene chloride vinylchloride copolymer containing between about 70 weight percent and about 90 weight percent vinylidene chloride, and a second outer layer of a second ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by co-extrusion of the layers, and then it is biaxially stretched. After biaxial stretching, the multilayer film is irradiated to a dosage level of between 2 megarads and 3 megarads and heat-sealed in the form of a bag. The bag has improved toughness properties and heat-sealing characteristics and is not significantly discolored by the irradiation.

Abstract: A coextruded, heat shrinkable, thermoplastic multilayer film for packaging fresh red meat cuts and processed meats. The film comprises a first layer comprising very low density polyethylene, a first core layer of vinylidene chloride-methyl acrylate copolymer, and a second layer comprising very low density polyethylene. In another embodiment the first layer is a second core layer confined between said first core layer and a first outer layer comprising a heat sealable thermoplastic polymer or copolymer. In a further embodiment the second layer is a second core layer confined between said first core layer and a second outer layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: Heat-shrinkable films suitable for packaging food articles such as frozen poultry, primal meat cuts, and processed meat products. In one embodiment, the film may be a biaxially stretched monolayer film of a very low density polyethylene copolymer. In another embodiment, the film may be a biaxially stretched multilayer film comprising a first outer layer of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a core layer of a barrier film such as a polyvinylidene chloride copolymer or an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, and a second outer layer comprising a blend of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and a very low density polyethylene copolymer. The multilayer film is preferably made by coextrusion of the layers. The films for fabricated into bags useful for the aforementioned purposes. The bags have improved toughness.

Abstract: An irradiated four layer meat-adherable heat shrinkable film comprising an ionomer first layer, a second layer of anhydride adhesive-EVOH blend, a third layer of EVOH-amide polymer blend, and a fourth layer of anhydride adhesive-EVOH blend.