Antimicrobial compositions derived from edible plant sources such as essential oils, their active components, spices and plant extracts have shown antimicrobial effects against a number of foodborne pathogens. The foodborne pathogens of concern in meat and poultry products include Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. The antimicrobial compositions were applied to a meat surface using liquid or powder electrostatic spray systems to effectively reduce the amount of pathogens on various meat and poultry products.

A wheat flour for deep-fried food crusts is obtained by subjecting a mixture including a wheat flour and from 0.05 to 0.5 parts by mass of an emulsifier with respect to 100 parts by mass of the wheat flour to a heating treatment for 1 to 20 seconds under a condition where the temperature of the mixture is from 65 to 99° C. The emulsifier is at least one type of emulsifier selected from sucrose fatty acid esters and lecithin. The blending ratio of the emulsifier is preferably from 0.1 to 0.45 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the wheat flour. The wheat flour has an average grain size of preferably less than 100 μm. A crust material for deep-fried foods including the aforementioned wheat flour for deep-fried food crusts, and a tempura flour including the aforementioned wheat flour for deep-fried food crusts are also described.

A wheat flour for deep-fried food crusts is obtained by subjecting a mixture including a wheat flour and from 0.05 to 0.5 parts by mass of an emulsifier with respect to 100 parts by mass of the wheat flour to a heating treatment for 1 to 20 seconds under a condition where the temperature of the mixture is from 65 to 99° C. The emulsifier is at least one type of emulsifier selected from sucrose fatty acid esters and lecithin. The blending ratio of the emulsifier is preferably from 0.1 to 0.45 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the wheat flour. The wheat flour has an average grain size of preferably less than 100 μm. A crust material for deep-fried foods including the aforementioned wheat flour for deep-fried food crusts, and a tempura flour including the aforementioned wheat flour for deep-fried food crusts are also described.

A food product coating apparatus has a main conveyor, a coating-material spreading system for spreading coating material across the main conveyor, and a coating-material recirculation system for recirculating excess-coating material spilling out the discharge end of the main conveyor. The recirculation system has at least one transverse collection conveyor and at least one counter-flow return conveyor, both of which like the main conveyor made of solid web material. The coating-material spreading system comprises a first overhead sifting loader near the intake end and a spaced away second overhead sifting loader. A food-product inflow conveyor transfers an inflow of food product to the main conveyor between the first and second loaders.

A food product coating apparatus has a main conveyor, a coating-material spreading system for spreading coating material across the main conveyor, and a coating-material recirculation system for recirculating excess-coating material spilling out the discharge end of the main conveyor. The recirculation system has at least one transverse collection conveyor and at least one counter-flow return conveyor, both of which like the main conveyor made of solid web material. The coating-material spreading system comprises a first overhead sifting loader near the intake end and a spaced away second overhead sifting loader. A food-product inflow conveyor transfers an inflow of food product to the main conveyor between the first and second loaders.

A piping structure (1A) comprises a first pipe (10) to which food (H) is supplied, a plurality of second pipes (20) provided downstream of the first pipe (10) and connected to the first pipe (10), and a plurality of third pipes (30) provided downstream of the second pipes (20), a number of the plurality of third pipes being connected to each of the second pipes (20).

A piping structure (1A) comprises a first pipe (10) to which food (H) is supplied, a plurality of second pipes (20) provided downstream of the first pipe (10) and connected to the first pipe (10), and a plurality of third pipes (30) provided downstream of the second pipes (20), a number of the plurality of third pipes being connected to each of the second pipes (20).

A contactless or touchless dispenser is provided, such as for condiments or similar food service related items. The dispenser allows a user to obtain a quantity of a condiment without being required to touch the condiment dispenser. The dispenser includes a controller for controlling a dispensing mechanism, such as in response to an instruction received from a remote device, or by touchless input, such as by detecting a utensil. The controller may control the dispensing mechanism to cause the dispenser to dispense condiment for a particular period of time or to dispense a particular quantity of condiment.

A contactless or touchless dispenser is provided, such as for condiments or similar food service related items. The dispenser allows a user to obtain a quantity of a condiment without being required to touch the condiment dispenser. The dispenser includes a controller for controlling a dispensing mechanism, such as in response to an instruction received from a remote device, or by touchless input, such as by detecting a utensil. The controller may control the dispensing mechanism to cause the dispenser to dispense condiment for a particular period of time or to dispense a particular quantity of condiment.

The food coating composition of the invention contains a cocoa powder having an L* of 35 or less and a powdery dispersion medium, wherein the cocoa powder is dispersed in the powdery dispersion medium. The content of the cocoa powder is preferably 0.1 to 10 mass %. The processed food of the present invention has a cocoa powder having an L* of 35 or less attached to its surface. The method for producing a processed food of the invention includes applying the food coating composition to a food substrate to form a coated food substrate and allowing the coated food substrate to cook. Allowing the coated food substrate to cook may be by at least one of frying, oven cooking, and steaming.