Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial food casing; method for removing said artificial food casing; and methods for manufacturing said artificial food casing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inflating a casing enclosing a sausage stick is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a holder configured to receive the sausage stick enclosed in the casing and move together with the sausage stick thereby received from an inflation starting position to an inflation end position, and an inflating needle configured to penetrate the casing of the sausage stick received by the holder and to follow the holder immoveably relative to the holder moving together with the sausage stick from the inflation starting position to the inflation end position to inflate the casing between the inflation starting position and the inflation end position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cellulose-based food casing comprising alkenyl succinic anhydride and a method for the manufacture of said cellulose-based food casing.

Abstract: An artificial food casing includes a marking with a traceability code, wherein the marking includes an ultraviolet-detectable component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayer fibrous reinforced food casing comprising a fibrous reinforced layer located between an inside layer and an outer layer; the inside layer comprising an adhesion promoter comprising one or more of protein coagulants, proteins, glyoxals, glutaraldehyde, caseins, gelatines, wet strengths resins and any mixtures thereof; and the outer layer comprising a peeling agent comprising one or more of polyalkylene glycols and any mixtures thereof or the inside layer comprising a peeling agent comprising one or more of polyalkylene glycols and any mixtures thereof; or the outer layer and the inside layer comprising a peeling agent comprising one or more of polyalkylene glycols and any mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cellulose-based food casing comprising alkenyl succinic anhydride and a method for the manufacture of said cellulose-based food casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a composite casing shirred to a caterpillar, said process comprising steps of pulling an outer casing over the inner casing, and optionally a net between the inner and outer casings, or over the outer casing, and finally shirring the composite casing thus obtained to give a compact tube, which is cut to yield caterpillars.

Abstract: The invention relates to smokable sausage casings which are based on polyamide and polymers containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks. The said smokable, heat-shrinkable tubular sausage casings are particularly suitable for the manufacture of cooked meat sausages, scalded-emulsion sausages, cooked or rapidly fermented sausages containing fat and smoked ham. The smokable sausage casing comprises 15-85 wt % of a polyamide (i) or a combination of polyamides (i) and 15-85 wt % of a polymer (ii) containing polyamide blocks and polyether blocks or a combination of polymers (ii).

Abstract: Methods of imparting functionality to a food surface are described. In general, a tubular food casing having a surface coated with a polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer is contacted with a food surface. The functionality is imparted onto the food surface, and in some instances, the polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer is subsequently removed.

Abstract: Methods for combining a tubular net with a carrier casing are disclosed. Air is blown into a carrier casing so that it is inflated to have a circular diameter. The inflated carrier casing is pulled in the direction of a tubular net toward a pleating head. The tubular net has holes and an open end of the tubular net is attached to a clamp. The inflated carrier casing is fed into the tubular net while pulling the net inside out over itself. The inflated carrier casing covered by the tubular net is pulled through the pleating head (which constricts the carrier casing) toward a shirring machine that includes the shirring mandrel. Air is blown from inside the shirring mandrel at a pressure that forces at least some areas of the carrier casing between the holes of the net to form protruding bulges, and the net/carrier casing combination is shined.

Abstract: Shirred casing is packaged in pockets on a belt to assist in the stuffing of the shirred casing by an automated stuffing machine. The package is made up of a belt with pockets for the shirred casings. The pockets provide structural integrity to the shirred casings and are spaced evenly for automated handling. The automated stuffing machine has a strand drum with indentations to receive the pocket of the package. The strand drum acts as an indexing mechanism to position each successive pocket so that the shirred casings within may be stuffed. A stuffing horn moves between a stuffing position and an indexing position that is clear of the strand drum. A method for automating the stuffing of shirred casings is disclosed as well.