A cooking system for cooking a product flow utilizing steam. A supply of steam is provided at a supply pressure that is regulated by a control unit to a regulated pressure. The supply of steam is provided to a plurality of steam injection cookers which are positioned within a product supply pipeline that receives a product flow. The product flow is cooked as the product flow passes through the product supply pipeline and the plurality of cookers. Each of the steam injection cookers includes a steam modulator that controls the amount of steam injected. By regulating the steam pressure and the steam modulator, the control unit can modify the amount of shear created within the product flow and control the temperature of the fluid. The cooking system further includes a clean-in-place system that can inject a cleaning solution into the steam supply pipeline and the plurality of steam injection cookers.

A method for monitoring the presence or absence of a megavirus in animal feed, an animal feed ingredient, or an animal product uses a surrogate virus assay. The surrogate virus assay generally includes, inoculating the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product with a surrogate virus as a proxy for the megavirus, subjecting the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product to a treatment that inactivates the megavirus and the surrogate virus, waiting a predetermined period of time, and determining the presence or absence of the surrogate virus in the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product, thereby monitoring the presence or absence of the megavirus in the animal feed, animal feed ingredient, or animal product.

Disclosed are a disinfection and sterilization apparatus and method for a refrigerated container transportation system. The disinfection and sterilization apparatus comprises a to-be-treated waiting area, a disinfection and sterilization system, a treatment waiting area and a central control system, wherein a first prompter is arranged in the to-be-treated waiting area; the disinfection and sterilization system comprises a disinfection and sterilization bin, a vacuumizing device and an ozone supply device; a disinfection and sterilization bin inlet and a disinfection and sterilization bin outlet are respectively formed in the left side and the right side of the disinfection and sterilization bin; the top of the disinfection and sterilization bin is provided with a detaching and hanging device for detaching or hanging a refrigerated container and a transportation vehicle; a second prompter is arranged in the treatment waiting area; and the central control system is connected with the first prompter, the disinfection and sterilization bin inlet, the disinfection and sterilization bin outlet, the detaching and hanging device and the second prompter through data transmission lines. According to the disinfection and sterilization apparatus and method, a new coronavirus propagation path of cold-chain food in the refrigerated container can be effectively, and particularly, adverse effects of disinfection and sterilization apparatuses on parts such as engines and tires of transportation vehicles in the vacuumizing and ozone injection processes can be avoided.

An appliance disinfecting device with monitoring and safety interlock system that utilizes user detection and sensors to detect touch and can provide user feedback and decorative features. The device can include a UV transmissive material that provides disinfection of hard to reach surfaces or areas safely. The appliance disinfection device can include an automatic interlock to protect a user from UV exposure. The optics used for the UV disinfection allow the device to become a human interface. The device can be connected to the appliance control system which can be connected to a network and cloud interface.

A device for indicating exposure to a pressure. The device may include a base layer, a plurality of microcapsules, and a coating, with the microcapsules being disposed between the base layer and the coating. The microcapsules contain a indicator material that can be released once the microcapsules burst. The microcapsules then have a compressive bursting strength that is chosen or designed to be less than a selected pressure (e.g., the pressure being that to which a particular article may be exposed during high pressure processing). Thus, when the device is subjected to a pressure greater than the compressive bursting strength, at least some microcapsules burst, the indicator material is released from the microcapsules, and the release of the indicator material can be detected by observation of the device. The device may be a label that is associated (such as by being affixed) to the article being subjected to pressure (or multiple labels being associated (such as by being affixed) to multiple articles. Alternatively, the device may be associated with an article or articles without being affixed thereto.

Systems and methods for providing food intervention, pumping up, and tenderization are discussed. While such systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a needleless spray nozzle head that injects injectade into food without requiring the head to contact the food. In some cases, the head comprises an elongated needleless spray bar that defines multiple internal fluid channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the head comprises a manifold system with a first manifold portion at the first end and a second manifold portion at the second end of the spray bar. In some cases, the first manifold portion directs the injectade towards the second end, and the second manifold portion directs the injectade towards the first end of the elongated needleless spray bar. Other implementations are described.

A method for processing articles using a microwave heating system includes obtaining an operating profile for heating a type of article using the microwave heating system. The operating profile includes a temperature-time profile for a target F.sub.0 value and a group of set point values for achieving the temperature-time profile, the group of set point values including a target for a control parameter of the microwave heating system. Using a control system operatively coupled to the microwave heating system, the microwave heating system is operated in accordance with the group of set point values such that each of the articles achieves an F.sub.0 value that is greater than or equal to the target F.sub.0 value.

A food processing apparatus includes a reaction tank having an internal space for storing a reactant that is in a liquid state and that is used for food, a cooler that cools a reactant stored in the reaction tank, and a catalytic reactor disposed in the internal space. The catalytic reactor includes a reaction tube, a light source disposed in the interior of the reaction tube, and a heat insulator disposed between the reaction tube and the light source. The outer surface of the reaction tube is provided with a photocatalyst. The reaction tube allows light radiated from the light source to pass therethrough. The reaction tube has a first end, and the first end is closed so as to serve as a bottom surface of the reaction tube. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulator is lower than the thermal conductivity of the reaction tube.

The invention relates to an apparatus for treating foodstuff containers by spraying with a biocide-containing treatment liquid in at least one treatment zone (Z1-Z4) equipped with spraying means (B) for spraying the containers, the apparatus further comprising transport means for transporting the containers through the treatment zones (Z1-Z4), at least one generator (G1) for producing a biocide solution, at least one heating device for heating the treatment liquid, lines for supplying the biocide solution from the generator (G1) to the treatment zones (Z1-Z4) and, optionally, to at least one further biocide consumer device (BV1, BV2), lines for supplying the treatment liquid to the treatment means (B), as well as valves (V1-V7), controllable metering devices and pumps required for controlling the liquid flows, characterized in that a) the apparatus comprises at least two generators (G1, G2) for producing the biocide solution, and b) the generators (G1, G2) are connected or connectable neither directly nor indirectly to one another, but via corresponding feed lines to all treatment zones (Z1-Z4) and to any further biocide consumer device (BV1, BV2); and a method for operating such an apparatus.

A raw meat protein product is prepared by a process comprising directing a raw meat protein along a mixture conduit, placing steam in contact with the raw meat protein to raise the temperature of the raw meat protein to a pathogen neutralizing temperature, and maintaining that temperature in the raw meat protein for a treatment period of time. The process then includes applying a vacuum to the heated raw meat protein to vaporize water that has condensed from the steam and then separating the raw meat protein from the vaporized water and any remaining steam.