The present invention relates to increase processing efficiency, improve product quality, enhances product safety, improves sensory attributes, and meets customer demands. Due to the rapid carcass chilling in a given water consumption, this invention also related to sustainable agriculture, particularly environmentally-friendly food preparation, particularly resource-saving meat processing, particularly water-efficient and energy-efficient meat processing. The present invention provides, inter alia, methods to chill an animal carcass so as to improve tenderness in the finished fresh product, comprising: immersing an animal carcass in at least one saltwater solution, wherein the percentage of salt in the water is in the range of from about 1% salt/water to about 10% salt/water, and wherein the temperature of the saltwater solution is in the range of from about 0.6 C. to about 6.0 C.; and chilling the animal carcass.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for the reduction of microbial contamination of animal carcasses, including fowl, and food products with carbonic acid-based compositions.

The present disclosure includes various method, and apparatus embodiments for high speed rinsing solution application. One such apparatus embodiment includes a substructure having an elliptical track, a catheter delivery system including a plurality of carriages coupled to the track, wherein each of the carriages includes a respective catheter delivery mechanism, a carousel drive system configured to drive the carriages such that the carriages circulate about the substructure on the track, a rotary timing valve positioned above a central portion of the substructure, the rotary timing valve including a plurality of outlets each positioned at a respective radial position on the rotary timing valve, wherein each of the plurality of outlets is connected to a respective catheter delivery mechanism by a hose, and a hose table positioned between the rotary timing valve and the substructure and configured to support the hoses.

A carcass cleaning tool for removing dag from a suspended carcass has a body with at least one handle mounted to it for allowing an operator to hold the tool away from them. A driver is mounted in the body and rotates a head having a shaft extending therefrom. A plurality of arms extend from the shaft and have tines at distal ends, the tines adapted to engage the animal carcass to remove dag from the carcass hide. The head is oriented to permit movement of the arms and tines in front of the tool operator. A suspension point for hanging the body from an overhead support permits the operator to move the tool arms and tines toward and away from the carcass to remove the dag without damaging the carcass hide. The tool body never makes contact with the ground as a result of using the suspension point.

A chiller bath includes a tank for holding a volume of chiller water; a dosing system for dosing a first solution and a second solution into the chiller water, arranged to create a plurality of zones within the volume of water, wherein each zone has a higher concentration of either the first or the second solution than surrounding portions of the volume of water; and a meat or poultry immersion arrangement for immersing and moving carcasses in the chiller water. A method for reducing bacterial load on meat or poultry includes generating a plurality of zones within a chiller bath containing water by dosing a source of alkalinity and antimicrobial into the water, wherein the plurality of zones comprises at least one alkaline zone with a pH above 8.5, and at least one antimicrobial zone with pH below 8.5; and submersing meat or poultry in the bath. The zones can also be generated using spray nozzles in a meat or poultry operation.

A system and method of washing meat carcass parts such as cattle carcass halves suspended from and conveyed by an overhead conveyor, wherein the method is executed using a washing device comprising a first spraying device on a first side and a second spraying device on a second side of a processing path. The first and second spraying devices each have multiple pivotable nozzles. The method includes supplying pressurized washing liquid to the nozzles. The washing liquid is provided to at least some of the multiple nozzles of the first spraying device at a higher liquid pressure than a lower liquid pressure at which washing liquid is provided to the multiple nozzles of the second spraying device.

Compositions and methods for cleaning and decontaminating animal carcasses are disclosed. The compositions comprise a mud ball remover having a thioglycolate salt and a base and an antimicrobial agent effective to remove mud balls and reduce microbial contamination of a hide surface at ambient temperatures. The methods comprise cleaning and decontaminating an animal carcass by applying the disclosed compositions onto the surface of the animal carcass to soften and loosen foreign debris attached to the carcass followed by mechanically removing the foreign debris while preserving the integrity and quality of the hide byproduct and resulting leather articles.

A process for reducing the bacterial count on a red meat carcass during the processing of livestock, such as bovine or swine, by applying an intervention solution having at least one equilibrium peroxycarboxylic acid or a pH modified peroxycarboxylic acid comprising peroxyacetic acid to the red meat carcass at an elevated temperature above 100 F. and at a concentration of at least 10 ppm, preferably an elevated concentration of at least 200 ppm, for a desired period of time of less than about 60 seconds, preferably less than about 30 seconds, to reduce the bacterial count by at least 60 percent.

The present disclosure includes improved apparatuses and methods related to meat processing. One example method includes performing a first cut in association with a rinsing process performed on an animal, wherein performing the first cut includes severing at least one jugular vein of the animal; and subsequent to performing the first cut, performing a second cut that includes one of: making an incision in a vena cava of the animal that provides an exit location for treatment solution introduced into a circulatory system of the animal; and severing the vena cava of the animal such that the severed vena cava provides an exit location for treatment solution introduced into the circulatory system of the animal.

The present disclosure includes various method, and apparatus embodiments for high speed rinsing solution application. One such apparatus embodiment includes a substructure having an elliptical track, a catheter delivery system including a plurality of carriages coupled to the track, wherein each of the carriages includes a respective catheter delivery mechanism, a carousel drive system configured to drive the carriages such that the carriages circulate about the substructure on the track, a rotary timing valve positioned above a central portion of the substructure, the rotary timing valve including a plurality of outlets each positioned at a respective radial position on the rotary timing valve, wherein each of the plurality of outlets is connected to a respective catheter delivery mechanism by a hose, and a hose table positioned between the rotary timing valve and the substructure and configured to support the hoses.