Abstract: Methods for separating lean and fat from beef or other meats and the separation apparatus are disclosed. The methods use microbiocidal fluids to reduce or eliminate possible sources of contamination.

Abstract: A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for reducing microbial levels on a hide of an animal utilizing a device for contacting the hide of an animal with an alkaline solution having a pH of between about 8 and about 13 after stunning the animal, a second a device for contacting the hide with a second solution that includes one of water, organic acid or hydrogen peroxide and a a device for reusing at least a portion of the alkaline solution or the water/organic acid/hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for scalding poultry carcasses comprising a plumage, comprising: a processing space with transport means in the form of a transport path for poultry carcasses; a feed of scalding medium; dispensing means for the scalding medium provided with outlet openings, wherein the scalding medium leaving the outlet openings co-displaces with the poultry carcasses moving along the transport path. The present invention also relates to an improved method for scalding poultry.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for reducing microbial levels on a hide of an animal utilizing a device for contacting the hide of an animal with an alkaline solution having a pH of between about 8 and about 13 after stunning the animal, a second a device for contacting the hide with a second solution that includes one of water, organic acid or hydrogen peroxide and a device for reusing at least a portion of the alkaline solution or the water/organic acid/hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions including peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid and methods for reducing microbial contamination on poultry. The methods include the step of applying a mixed peroxycarboxylic acid composition to poultry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for scalding poultry carcasses comprising a plumage, comprising: a processing space with transport means in the form of a transport path for poultry carcasses; a feed of scalding medium; dispensing means for the scalding medium provided with outlet openings, wherein the scalding medium leaving the outlet openings co-displaces with the poultry carcasses moving along the transport path. The present invention also relates to an improved method for scalding poultry.

Abstract: A scalding apparatus for poultry includes an overhead conveyor for moving poultry, suspended by their legs, through an immersion tank filled with scald water. A filtering device and pumping unit can be used to withdraw the scald water, clean the scald water, and reintroduce the scald water to the tank. Upwardly directed nozzles, located in the bottom of the tank, provided a stream of scald water directed up and over the poultry. A reversing guide may be provided for redirecting the scald water downwards to the poultry. The immersion tank may be divided into chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for scalding poultry, comprising: a processing space provided with transport means for carrying the poultry for processing through the processing space, a conditioning space connecting to the processing space for composing a conditioning medium, and displacing means for displacing the conditioning medium from the conditioning space to the processing space. The invention also relates to a method for scalding poultry.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for scalding of slaughtered poultry are described, for example chickens, hens, turkeys, ducks, or geese, prior to plucking thereof, where the birds while shackled by their feet are conveyed through a scalding chamber (2), preferably via a sluice device, in which chamber a precisely controlled heated atmosphere of humid, hot air is established by blowing in steam at the bottom of the scalding chamber, which air is recirculated and blown directly onto the poultry, and where the scalding period is determined by the length and course of the conveyor (8) and by the capacity and/or speed of the conveyor, where a scalding chamber (2) with a relatively large height is used, and where the scalding chamber conveyor (8) including its secondary nozzles (10) extends through two or more levels (stories).

Abstract: A poultry treatment system relating to dissection, shape arrangement, and dispensing treatment, which can prevent the growth of bacteria in cleaning, cooling, and succeeding treatment processes for making possible the securing of the least contaminated state (the number of common live bacteria carried by a packed article of 2 kg is 102), composed of; a pretreatment section 20 comprising hanging part 20a, bloodletting part 20b, immersion-in-hot-water part 20c; a treatment section 10 comprising a plucking part 11, hollowing part 12, cleaning/sterilizing/cooling part 13, and water-washing part 14; a dissecting/dispensing/packaging section comprising a automatic dissection part 16, shape arrangement part 17, dispensing/packaging part 18; and shipment section 21.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method and system for dehairing an animal, providing a system for recycling and safely disposing of chemical and biological wastes produced during such dehairing method. Included in such method are processes for handling sodium production in waste materials, reducing and handling production of H2S, removing sulfides from animal hides, safely disposing of sulfide waste, removing solids from the waste materials, and reducing water and reagent use and disposal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method and system for dehairing an animal, providing a system for recycling and safely disposing of chemical and biological wastes produced during such dehairing method. Included in such method are processes for handling sodium production in waste materials, reducing and handling production of H2S, removing sulfides from animal hides, safely disposing of sulfide waste, removing solids from the waste materials, and reducing water and reagent use and disposal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method and system for dehairing an animal, providing a system for recycling and safely disposing of chemical and biological wastes produced during such dehairing method. Included in such method are processes for handling sodium production in waste materials, reducing and handling production of H2S, removing sulfides from animal hides, safely disposing of sulfide waste, removing solids from the waste materials, and reducing water and reagent use and disposal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method and system for dehairing an animal, providing a system for recycling and safely disposing of chemical and biological wastes produced during such dehairing method. Included in such method are processes for handling sodium production in waste materials, reducing and handling production of H.sub.2 S, removing sulfides from animal hides, safely disposing of sulfide waste, removing solids from the waste materials, and reducing water and reagent use and disposal.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying pathogens on food, including a steam chamber having an entrance opening and an exit opening. An entrance door structure nominally closes the entrance opening in the steam chamber and an exit door structure nominally closes the exit opening of the steam chamber. Each of the entrance and exit door structures are composed of a plurality of closely vertically adjacent segments that are mounted to the entrance and exit openings to open and close independently of each other. Flanges extend horizontally from the upper and lower edges of the door segments to maintain a relatively close seal with the adjacent door segment even though the door segments are opened or closed a relatively differing amount.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying pathogens on meat includes a dewatering station, a steam heating chamber, and a cooling chamber. The meat is treated as it is moved along by a conveyor. The dewatering chamber includes an air blower with nozzles for blowing air at the surface of the meat to remove surface water from the meat. The steam heating chamber is disposed adjacent the dewatering chamber and includes a steam heating chamber enclosure that is sealed for maintaining a positive pressure in the steam heating chamber relative to the dewatering chamber. In one embodiment the steam chamber moves along with the meat on the conveyor. The cooling chamber is disposed adjacent the steam chamber opposite from the dewatering station. The cooling chamber has nozzles for spraying chilled water onto the surface of the meat for rapidly cooling the meat after it is passed through the steam heating chamber. The meat conveyor extends through the dewatering chamber, the steam chamber, and the chilled water chamber.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously clarifying lesions on poultry paws and for blanching or whitening poultry paws is disclosed. The paws are steamed for about fifteen seconds. Next they are soaked in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide for about twenty minutes. The hydrogen peroxide preferably comprises about 2.0% of the solution by volume and the solution preferably has a pH of between about 9.6 and about 10.6. The solution should also preferably contain about 100 ppm of a food grade surfactant suitable for dissolving oils into water. An anti-foam agent may also be included in the solution. After soaking, the skin of the paws is preferably removed, most preferably by subjecting the paws to rotating rubber fingers. When the process is complete, the paws are substantially white, and any lesions that may have been present are substantially clear. Additionally, the process will cause the paws to absorb water which will make them heavier.

Abstract: An animal carcass pasteurization apparatus and process is provided. Carcasses are suspended from a movable gambrel and are conveyed through a housing containing a heated water distribution system. Preferably, the gambrel extends through the top of the housing in a scaled manner, excluding contaminants from outside of the housing. The distribution system comprises a plurality of distribution elements and means for supplying heated water thereto. The distribution elements preferably comprise overhead and lower arrays of nozzles. Each nozzle dispenses and directs a discrete and substantially continuous sheet of heated water to contact the carcass. The overhead array directs sheets of water downwardly onto the carcass, forming a layer of heated water which flows over the exterior contours of the carcass, for pasteurization of the upper and lateral surfaces of the carcass. The lower array directs heated water upwardly to contact and pasteurize the underside of the carcass.

Abstract: A method for sanitizing a fowl that has been defeathered and eviscerated by contacting the fowl with peracetic acid solution containing from 100 to 2000 ppm peracetic acid. Completely contacting the fowl with peracetic acid solution effectively reduces the bacterial level found on the fowl to a level that will not produce disease in human beings.

Abstract: A vacuum steam wand for sanitizing a carcass includes a housing having a handle and a thermally conductive vacuum head with steam passages within that maintain the temperature of the vacuum head above a desired sanitizing temperature. The vacuum head includes a wall defining a vacuum region that is surrounded at the interior and exterior perimeter by multiple closely spaced steam nozzles that continuously wash the wall, spray the carcass to loosen contaminants and maintain the temperature of the wall at or above the sanitizing temperature. Only steam is used and water is not needed by the tool. A thermometer for monitoring temperature is provided and portions of the tool are coated with a nonstick coating to prevent contaminants from adhering due to the high temperature of the tool surface and to reduce friction with the carcass.

Abstract: A poultry scalding tank has one wall with a lateral pocket that receives the breast of the bird suspended by the feet from a shackle conveyor running above the tank. The top of the pocket produces a force normal to the breast upon contact, which force has a downward component sufficient to overcome buoyancy forces that tend to raise portions of the bird out of the water. Air injector heads disposed below the path of the bird, and offset away from the breast side thereof, agitate the scalding water to penetrate the feathers. A more thorough and even scalding results.

Abstract: A process for treating animal meat during the steps of scalding and chilling is disclosed. The meat is treated with an aqueous Biocide which contains a mixture of two or more organic acids and a surfactant.

Abstract: A method of heat treatment of products advanced through a chamber by circulation through the chamber of hot, humid air that is evacuated, is supplied with humidity and heat and then blown back to the chamber, includes the step of supplying heat and humidity to the air by atomization into the circulating air of excess water of a temperature higher than that intended in the chamber. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a chamber comprising one or more subunits, through which subunit(s) the products to be thermally treated are passed, a fan which on its draught side is connected with the subunit for exhaustion of the humid air and on its delivery side with a flow passage for blowback of the humid air to the subunit, and a water atomizer for water of a higher temperature than that desired in the scalding chamber. The method provides for obtaining a stable heat treatment at varying load and actions of heat and cold.