The present invention relates to a method and a device for treating and/or transporting food items. The apparatus and method are designed to facilitate treating food items in liquid. The device of the present invention is designed as a spiral pump with a tubing that is wound around a frame structure which rotates around a horizontal axis. The apparatus of the present invention and the use thereof provides a method to treat food items in a spiral pump, where the food items are treated cycle by cycle in the pump.

Disclosed is a method for disinfecting a meat product by placing the meat in a contacting chamber and directly contacting the meat with gaseous ozone for a time interval sufficient to substantially reduce pathogens on the meat. In certain aspects, the time interval is from about 3 seconds to about 30 seconds. In further aspects, the time interval is from about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds. In yet further aspects, the time interval is about 5 seconds. In certain implementations, the gaseous ozone is introduced into the chamber at about 10 liters per minute. In further implementations, the gaseous ozone is from about 6% to about 8% ozone.

Disclosed is a method for disinfecting a meat product by placing the meat in a contacting chamber and directly contacting the meat with gaseous ozone for a time interval sufficient to substantially reduce pathogens on the meat. In certain aspects, the time interval is from about 3 seconds to about 30 seconds. In further aspects, the time interval is from about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds. In yet further aspects, the time interval is about 5 seconds. In certain implementations, the gaseous ozone is introduced into the chamber at about 10 liters per minute. In further implementations, the gaseous ozone is from about 6% to about 8% ozone.

A method for treating an animal carcass (3) after slaughtering, comprising: a) placing the carcass (3) into a chamber (2), and b) disinfecting the carcass (3) within the chamber (2) by maintaining an oxygen concentration within the chamber (2) above 20% and maintaining a temperature of the carcass (3) above 10° C. With the described method and use an animal carcass (3) can be disinfected particularly efficiently, in particular with respect to campylobacter bacteria. Therefore, the carcass (3) is subjected to an oxygen concentration above 20% and to a temperature above 10° C.

A method for treating an animal carcass (3) after slaughtering, comprising: a) placing the carcass (3) into a chamber (2), and b) disinfecting the carcass (3) within the chamber (2) by maintaining an oxygen concentration within the chamber (2) above 20% and maintaining a temperature of the carcass (3) above 10° C. With the described method and use an animal carcass (3) can be disinfected particularly efficiently, in particular with respect to campylobacter bacteria. Therefore, the carcass (3) is subjected to an oxygen concentration above 20% and to a temperature above 10° C.

Provided is a dry aging system using oxygen in which a separate dry-aging room is provided in a refrigerating compartment, and a mixed gas using oxygen is supplied into the dry-aging room so as to solve a blacking and browning phenomenon of a meat surface, which is led to an increase in loss rate and an increase in edible meat cost, which are disadvantages of existing dry-aging, thereby allowing the meat surface to be maintained in a bright red color through meat color fixation, minimizing the occurrence of the blacking and browning phenomenon to reduce the loss rate of the edible meat, and supplying flavorful dry-aged meat at a more reasonable price. Also, the blacking and browning phenomenon occurring on the generally dry-aged meat may be significantly reduced to produce aesthetically and tastefully very superior dry-aged meat.

Provided is a dry aging system using oxygen in which a separate dry-aging room is provided in a refrigerating compartment, and a mixed gas using oxygen is supplied into the dry-aging room so as to solve a blacking and browning phenomenon of a meat surface, which is led to an increase in loss rate and an increase in edible meat cost, which are disadvantages of existing dry-aging, thereby allowing the meat surface to be maintained in a bright red color through meat color fixation, minimizing the occurrence of the blacking and browning phenomenon to reduce the loss rate of the edible meat, and supplying flavorful dry-aged meat at a more reasonable price. Also, the blacking and browning phenomenon occurring on the generally dry-aged meat may be significantly reduced to produce aesthetically and tastefully very superior dry-aged meat.

Apparatuses and methods are provided for storing and preserving product, such as to extend shelf life of the same. In one optional method, liquid-exuding product is placed in a product containing space of a container atop a platform of a support structure. The container can include an internal compartment having the product containing space. The structure can define the platform for supporting the product. The internal compartment can further include a reservoir, configured to retain liquid, below the platform. At least one of the platform or the support structure can be configured to direct liquid exuded from the product to the reservoir. Optionally, the reservoir comprises or contains an absorbent material for absorbing liquid in the reservoir.

Apparatuses and methods are provided for storing and preserving product, such as to extend shelf life of the same. In one optional method, liquid-exuding product is placed in a product containing space of a container atop a platform of a support structure. The container can include an internal compartment having the product containing space. The structure can define the platform for supporting the product. The internal compartment can further include a reservoir, configured to retain liquid, below the platform. At least one of the platform or the support structure can be configured to direct liquid exuded from the product to the reservoir. Optionally, the reservoir comprises or contains an absorbent material for absorbing liquid in the reservoir.

A meat-packaging procedure and a machine for packaging meat cuts for long-term storage is operated at temperatures of between 28 and 42 F. The process includes sealing meat cuts or full poultry birds or bird pieces within a master bag containing (i) oxygen scavenger materials capable of reducing the residual oxygen content of the atmosphere within the bag to 0 ppm within 96 hours of sealing, and (ii) a CO2 generator capable to generate CO2 in the amount of at least 100 mL per pound of meat or poultry within 7 days of sealing. Gas is injected into the master bag to form a CO2-rich storage environment of at least 50% CO2. For meat trays containing meat with poor color stability, oxygen scavengers are preferably placed within the meat trays. For cuts with good color stability, the oxygen scavengers may be placed outside the meat trays.