A produce wash system is provided. The produce wash system includes a produce line including a short-term wash device and a rinse transition component followed by a wash device, a short-term wash treatment that is applied by the short-term wash device to a product, wherein the short-term wash treatment remains on the product for a pretreatment time that lasts until the short-term wash treatment is rinsed off, and a rinse solution applied by the rinse transition component that rinses the product after the product leaves the short-term wash device and before the product enters the wash device, and a wash treatment that is applied by the wash device to the product, wherein the wash treatment rinses any remaining short-term wash treatment from the product. The pretreatment time is set at or below a damage threshold time beyond which the short-term wash treatment damages the product beyond a damage threshold.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Apparatuses and methods for applying an antimicrobial agent to food products include methods and systems for limiting the escape of antimicrobial agent to the environment during antimicrobial treatment of the food product. In one embodiment, a series of cabinet panels moves in line with the passing food product and forms an enclosure around the food product by means of panels closing ahead of and behind the food product. In another embodiment, the direction and spray pattern of positively charged aerosolized antimicrobial particles is controlled by attracting the particles to preselected negatively charged regions within a treatment volume.

Apparatuses and methods for applying an antimicrobial agent to food products include methods and systems for limiting the escape of antimicrobial agent to the environment during antimicrobial treatment of the food product. In one embodiment, a series of cabinet panels moves in line with the passing food product and forms an enclosure around the food product by means of panels closing ahead of and behind the food product. In another embodiment, the direction and spray pattern of positively charged aerosolized antimicrobial particles is controlled by attracting the particles to preselected negatively charged regions within a treatment volume.

A multi-angle wash system for cleaning carcass, wherein the wash system comprises a multi-angle fluid distribution unit; a rotating unit; a spray unit fluidly and operably coupled to the multi-angle fluid distribution unit; and a guiding unit operably coupled to the spray unit or the multi-angle fluid distribution unit. The multi-angle fluid distribution unit comprises a connecting element that is configured to operably couple with the spray unit such that the spray unit oscillates in correspondence to the rotation of the rotating unit. The spray unit comprises a guiding element and nozzle sprays. The guiding unit comprises a co-guiding element that has a reciprocate structure to the guiding element of the spray unit such that the guiding unit facilitates the oscillation of the spray unit in correspondence to the rotation of the rotating unit.

A multi-angle wash system for cleaning carcass, wherein the wash system comprises a multi-angle fluid distribution unit; a rotating unit; a spray unit fluidly and operably coupled to the multi-angle fluid distribution unit; and a guiding unit operably coupled to the spray unit or the multi-angle fluid distribution unit. The multi-angle fluid distribution unit comprises a connecting element that is configured to operably couple with the spray unit such that the spray unit oscillates in correspondence to the rotation of the rotating unit. The spray unit comprises a guiding element and nozzle sprays. The guiding unit comprises a co-guiding element that has a reciprocate structure to the guiding element of the spray unit such that the guiding unit facilitates the oscillation of the spray unit in correspondence to the rotation of the rotating unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

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.