The preservation or extension of the life of oxygen perishable products such as fresh or cooked meats; fresh vegetables and fruits; dried vegetables, fruits and meats; packaged pharmaceuticals or biologicals; open and enclosed marketing display cases of meats, fruits and vegetables; and packaging, warehousing and transportation of meats, fruits, and vegetables is obtained by subjecting such products to an atmosphere obtained from gas permeable packets of an oxygen scavenging composition comprising a sodium carbonate mineral and one or more carboxylic acids. When the environment surrounding the oxygen perishable product is subjected to the packets of gaseous permeable oxygen scavenging compositions, oxygen is taken in by the scavenging composition and also the presence of carbon dioxide in the surrounding environment is enhanced thereby minimizing or eliminating the effect the oxygen on the oxygen perishable products.

A method for decontaminating articles having porous outer surfaces. The method includes steps of: providing a decontamination chamber; conveying the articles through the decontamination chamber at a predetermined speed wherein the speed is selected such that the articles are disposed in the decontamination chamber for a predetermined period of time; providing a source of sterilant vapor, the source providing the sterilant vapor at a temperature within a predetermined acceptable temperature range and at a concentration within a predetermined acceptable concentration range; conveying a sterilant vapor from the source of sterilant vapor to the decontamination chamber; and exposing the articles to the sterilant vapor. The predetermined period of time and the predetermined acceptable concentration range of the sterilant vapor are selected such that the sterilant vapor does not penetrate the porous outer surfaces of the articles.

A method and system for wrapping meat in containers is provided. The method and system provide a modified atmosphere, other than that which exists as standard air, to a container such that a final sealed product contains an internal volume or atmosphere of modified gas. In-line processing features dispense the desired modified gas such that minimal interruption is provided in an automated or partially automated packing operation.

A method and system for wrapping meat in containers is provided. The method and system provide a modified atmosphere, other than that which exists as standard air, to a container such that a final sealed product contains an internal volume or atmosphere of modified gas. In-line processing features dispense the desired modified gas such that minimal interruption is provided in an automated or partially automated packing operation.

Rotating spray systems and related methods for enhancing spray performance can include one of more rotating spray assemblies formed of a plurality of individual, linear distribution manifolds to define a rotary cage. The rotary cage is fluidly coupled to a rotating distribution block on a distribution valve, with each linear distribution manifold being fluidly coupled to one of a plurality of distribution conduits defined in the rotating distribution block. The distribution valve further includes a fixed distribution block having an arcuate aperture defined therein. The rotating distribution block rotates relative to the fixed distribution block to individually and sequentially engage each distribution conduit with the arcuate aperture. When the individual distribution conduits are fluidly engaged with the arcuate aperture, pressurized fluid supplied to the distribution valve is supplied to the corresponding linear distribution manifold for spraying by one or more spray nozzles fluidly connected to each linear distribution manifold.

The invention relates to a method for the microbial decontamination of packaged solid food by means of essential oils (EOs), comprising vacuum evaporation of the EOs, and vacuum applying the EO vapours to the solid food arranged in an open container, wherein said vapours are drawn along by air or by a mixture of food-grade gases and guided to the vacuum enclosure containing the packaged food to be microbiologically decontaminated.

The invention relates to a method for the microbial decontamination of packaged solid food by means of essential oils (EOs), comprising vacuum evaporation of the EOs, and vacuum applying the EO vapours to the solid food arranged in an open container, wherein said vapours are drawn along by air or by a mixture of food-grade gases and guided to the vacuum enclosure containing the packaged food to be microbiologically decontaminated.

The present invention relates to a method for aging meat using whole grain barley and aged meat using the same, and more particularly, to a method for aging meat using whole grain barley and aged meat using the same wherein a first layer of whole grain barley, a layer of meat, and a second layer of whole grain barley are filled sequentially into a vacuum packing material, thereby allowing the meat to be surrounded completely with the whole grain barley, then vacuum-packed, and finally aged in a low temperature aging refrigerator through wet aging.

Packaged fish meat, including: frozen minced fish meat and gas containing oxygen at 22% by volume or more as contents; frozen minced fish meat, wherein the amount of agglutinated frozen minced fish meat based on the entire amount of the frozen minced fish meat is 9.5% by mass or less; or a method for preventing the agglutination of frozen minced fish meat, wherein frozen minced fish meat is made to coexist with gas containing oxygen at 22% by volume or more.

Packaged fish meat, including: frozen minced fish meat and gas containing oxygen at 22% by volume or more as contents; frozen minced fish meat, wherein the amount of agglutinated frozen minced fish meat based on the entire amount of the frozen minced fish meat is 9.5% by mass or less; or a method for preventing the agglutination of frozen minced fish meat, wherein frozen minced fish meat is made to coexist with gas containing oxygen at 22% by volume or more.