Apparatus and method for treating a product with steam. The apparatus includes a treatment tunnel having an entrance opening and an exit opening for introducing and discharging the product, respectively. The apparatus includes a transport unit for transporting the product from the entrance opening to the exit opening and a steam feed unit for feeding steam into the treatment tunnel. The apparatus includes one or more nozzles in communication with the steam feed unit arranged for directing a jet of steam at the product.

An apparatus for and method of steam treatment of fodder, for example animal fodder which is typically in baled form. The purpose of steam treating is to kill mesophilic and thermophilic mould spores that are either attached to the fodder or detach when disturbed and become airborne. These airborne particles are associated with respiratory problems, infections and allergies to livestock as well as humans. The apparatus for steam treating fodder comprises at least one steam distribution manifold, which has a plurality of lances adapted to penetrate a bale of fodder so that steam is supplied to the interior volume of the fodder.

Provided is a processing apparatus for processing water-containing organic matters. The processing apparatus includes: a processing tank configured to store the water-containing organic matters; a stirring unit configured to stir the water-containing organic matters; a heater configured to heat the processing tank; an exhaust unit configured to exhaust gas from the processing tank at a rate from 1 m.sup.3/min to 300 m.sup.3/min; and an ion gas supply unit configured to supply ion gas into the processing tank with the exhaustion of the gas from the interior of the processing tank, the ion gas having an ion density of at least 2,000,000 pcs/cc, wherein the heater heats an interior of the processing tank while the stirring unit stirs the water-containing organic matters, and the ion gas is supplied into the processing tank according to the exhaustion by the exhaust unit, whereby processing the water-containing organic matters.

High thermal transfer, hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) include elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) may also be of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). Structure (88, 90) is provided for delivery of heat exchange media (e.g., steam) into the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) and the hollow fighting (132, 134, 194). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes a forward, reverse pitch section (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to be used as complemental pairs as a part of twin screw processing devices (20), and are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the devices (20), without adding additional moisture.

An encapsulated food processing machine receives packages of frozen or freeze-dried food encapsulated in edible film. The machine heats water, pumps it to the portion of the machine with the encapsulated food, and mixes the encapsulated food while heating it with the warm water. The result is a ready-to-eat meal. In use, a user determines a number of packages of encapsulated food based on a pet's size and weight, and places the packages into a specially designed bowl. The user selects the number and type of packages on the machine, which prepares the food via the aforementioned process. The bowl with the ready-to-eat meal is then removed from the machine, and the pet eats the meal directly from the bowl.

Extrusion processes for the production of retort-stable feed products comprise forming a mixture of feed ingredients and subjecting the mixture to specific mechanical energy (SME) and specific thermal energy (STE) inputs to achieve low SME/STE ratios, followed by retorting of the extruded products. The extrusion system (20) includes a preconditioner (22), extruder (24), and a two-stage drying assembly (26/28). The extruded products may be retorted directly from the extruder or after partial or complete drying thereof.

High thermal transfer, hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) include elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) may also be of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). Structure (88, 90) is provided for delivery of heat exchange media (e.g., steam) into the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) and the hollow fighting (132, 134, 194). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes a forward, reverse pitch section (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to be used as complemental pairs as a part of twin screw processing devices (20), and are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the devices (20), without adding additional moisture.

A continuous-flow treatment system having a heat treatment device for the thermal continuous-flow treatment of solid food and animal feed and other bulk materials, including: a tubular drum having a motor-driven shaft and a drum casing connected to same via spoke elements, wherein the drum is open at the end sides thereof; a screw conveyor attached to the inner side of the drum casing; a housing which can be closed on all sides, in which the drum is rotatably mounted, and which has at least a respective supply opening and discharge opening, wherein of the components forming the drum, at least the drum casing is completely surrounded by the housing; at least one temperature sensor arranged in the drum; and a heating device having a hot air generator and an air distributer with at least one wide-slot nozzle extending up to the drum casing.

A texturized food analogue production system includes a first heating element, a second heating element, and a pump. The pump may be configured for moving a dough into the first heating element and across the second heating element. The second heating element includes a microwave applicator. A method for heating and protein texturization of a meat or non-meat dough includes heating the dough to a first temperature in a first heating element using shear heating and heating the dough to a second temperature using microwaves emitted from a second heating element.

Pet chews including a first component and a second component are described. In embodiments the first component is or includes fibrous connective tissue (e.g., ligament, tendon, or sclera tissue), and the second component includes internal organ tissue (e.g., urinary bladder tissue). Methods of making such chews are also described.