Methods and related apparatus for improving the efficacy of antimicrobial agents within processing tanks. Processing tanks can include side streams for introducing antimicrobial agents into the processing tanks. The antimicrobial agents will be added and mixed in the side stream to form a processing solution. Additional actions can be conducted on the processing solution within the side stream including any and or all of heating, pumping, sampling, measuring, testing and pH adjustment of the processing solution. The processing solution is divided into at least two processing solution steams, which can be introduced at two different and distinct locations within the processing tank such as a carcass introduction end and a carcass removal end. By simultaneously introducing at least two processing solution streams at different locations of the processing tank, large concentration gradients of the antimicrobial agent are avoided.

An apparatus for cooling temperature sensitive products comprises an ice-making machine comprising at least one nozzle for discharging ice-slurry from the ice-making machine, and at least one conveyor configured to convey at least one temperature sensitive product to a location to receive ice-slurry discharged through the at least one nozzle such that the at least one temperature sensitive product is exposed to ice-slurry

An electrostatic spray chilling system is configured to rapidly cool foodstuffs. A conveyor traverses foodstuffs through a chilling tunnel. A chilled primary airflow is provided to the chilling tunnel to cool the foodstuffs. As the foodstuff is traversed through the chilling tunnel, spray modules generate and apply sprays of electrostatically charged fluid onto the foodstuff. The charged fluid droplets are attracted to the grounded foodstuff. The charged fluid droplets can be guided onto the foodstuff by secondary fans, configured to generate subflows of the chilled primary air, and by air guiding baffles.

Method and device for freezing food items in a gradual process, where the food items are first put through under-cooling before the food items are placed in a container or receptacle for freezing. The method and device are particularly suitable for freezing freshly slaughtered and bled fish for later processing.

A contact drum freezer system includes a contact drum freezer, an endless product wrap belt and a cross feed conveyor. The contact drum freezer is mounted to revolve about an axis generally parallel to a main lane of transit. The endless product wrap belt has an intake shelf, an inner product-compressing run encircling most of the drum and an outer return run looping back to the intake shelf. The cross feed conveyor is situated in the main lane of transit and has a return run a and product-carrying run for transferring product laterally out of the main lane of transit and onto the intake shelf of the product wrap belt.

A method for processing fish can include transporting fully intact fish to a floating vessel, at least one of weighing and sorting the fully intact fish, forming a layer of frozen slime on an outer surface of skin of the fully intact fish, and freezing the fully intact fish by moving the fully intact fish through an ultra-low air temperature region. Related systems and apparatuses are also provided.

A poultry chiller includes a tank and an auger rotatably held in the tank. The auger includes a first auger section and a second auger section. The first auger section includes a first auger shaft and a first auger flight. The first auger flight includes a first helical portion on the first auger shaft and a first flight extension that extends away from the first helical portion. The second auger section includes a second auger shaft coupled to the first auger shaft and a second auger flight. The second auger flight includes a second helical portion on the second auger shaft and a second flight extension that extends away from the second helical portion. The chiller includes a hanger bearing assembly between the first and second auger sections and extending to an upper portion of the tank.

A revolutionized tuna process according to this invention generally comprising the steps of thawing of frozen tuna, de-heading and degutting, fileting, de-skinning, cleaning of the de-skinned tuna filet, pre-cooking, cooling, packing of the cleaned and pre-cooked tuna loin, and sterilizing the packed tuna loin or freezing the tuna loin. Not only does the process according to this invention reduces the energy utilization by half, it also significantly reduces the time required for cooking and cooling. Therefore, the whole processing time is significantly reduced from at least 8.0 hours in the conventional process to less than 30 minutes.

A poultry chiller includes a tank and an auger rotatably held in the tank. The auger includes a first auger section and a second auger section. The first auger section includes a first auger shaft and a first auger flight. The first auger flight includes a first helical portion on the first auger shaft and a first flight extension that extends away from the first helical portion. The second auger section includes a second auger shaft coupled to the first auger shaft and a second auger flight. The second auger flight includes a second helical portion on the second auger shaft and a second flight extension that extends away from the second helical portion. The chiller includes a hanger bearing assembly between the first and second auger sections and extending to an upper portion of the tank.

Methods and related apparatus for providing a chemical intervention processing solution for use within processing tanks. Processing tanks can include side streams or ancillary systems for generating the chemical intervention processing solution that can then be introduced into the processing tanks. The antimicrobial agents will be added and mixed in the side stream to form the chemical intervention processing solution. Additional actions can be conducted on the processing solution within the side stream including any and or all of heating, pumping, sampling, measuring, testing and pH adjustment of the processing solution. The chemical intervention processing solution can also be provided by a venturi injector that combines processing water and an antimicrobial agent and/or an alkaline agent outside of the processing tank. The processing solution can be used for various food processing applications.