An apparatus for washing meat or produce includes a container having an interior volume defined by wall and a base, and a pipe having an outlet opening to the interior volume of the container and an inlet at an exterior of the container. The container has an opening at an upper end thereof. The outlet opens adjacent to the base such that a flow of the fluid through the pipe is directed toward or adjacent to the base. The flow of water is directed through the container so as to create a circular flow pattern that causes the debris separate from the meat or produce within the container. A handle is affixed to or formed with the container on one of the end walls of the container.

A method of sanitizing a surface is described that includes: (a) providing a pH control composition that includes at least one pH control agent (such as sodium bisulfate); (b) contacting a first feed aqueous stream with the pH control composition, thereby forming a first treated aqueous stream; (c) combining at least a portion of the first treated aqueous stream with a feed sanitizing aqueous stream that includes free available halogen, thereby forming a treated sanitizing aqueous stream that includes free available halogen (such as free available chlorine). The surface sanitizing method further includes, (d) elevating the temperature of the treated sanitizing aqueous stream, thereby forming a heated treated sanitizing aqueous stream having an elevated temperature that includes free available halogen. The heated treated sanitizing aqueous stream is applied to a surface to be sanitized (such as a poultry carcass surface).

The present disclosure provides improved systems and methods for the blending of active agents into process fluids.

A food processing system includes at least one receptacle containing a composition of water and insoluble solids, a centripetal force-based solid/liquid separator having an inlet, a solids outlet, and a liquid outlet, and a pump able to direct the composition from the receptacle to the inlet of the separator. The separator is configured to separate the composition into a solids stream including the insoluble solids and a liquid stream including water and to direct the solids stream through the solids outlet and the liquid stream through the liquid outlet.

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.

The present disclosure provides improved systems and methods for the blending of active agents into process fluids.

A method of treating a surface of a poultry processing conveyor includes assembling the conveyor and bead blasting at least one surface of the conveyor to reduce a surface roughness of the surface. The surface of the conveyor may be bead blasted with glass beads. The glass beads may be AH-sized glass beads. The bead blasting of the surface may be conducted at a pressure of approximately 60 psi. The bead blasting of the surface may be directed at a 45-degree angle relative to the surface of the conveyor. The method may further include applying a hydrogen peroxide solution to the surface after the conveyor has been bead blasted. The method may further include shrink-wrapping the conveyor after the conveyor has been bead blasted.

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.

Disclosed here are methods of preparing a shelf stable (aseptic) product suitable for storage and transportation by using an ultra-high temperature process. The product may be derived from poultry or other animal sources and has high percentages of solids and proteins.