Systems and methods for antimicrobial application and related data collection are described. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods of the present disclosure include calculating a dwell time or density of workpieces in a vessel; and modulating the one or more conditions of the system based on the dwell time or density of workpieces in the vessel.

Brining apparatus includes a refrigerator, a sink, and a hollow housing to receive brining fluid and a turkey. The housing has an open mouth at the top. The apparatus also includes a cover which sealingly removably engages the mouth of the housing. The housing includes a valve to drain brining liquid from the housing. The housing and cover are shaped and dimensioned, when assembled, to fit in the refrigerator for cooling, and to fit in the sink to drain brining liquid from the housing.

Brining apparatus includes a refrigerator, a sink, and a hollow housing to receive brining fluid and a turkey. The housing has an open mouth at the top. The apparatus also includes a cover which sealingly removably engages the mouth of the housing. The housing includes a valve to drain brining liquid from the housing. The housing and cover are shaped and dimensioned, when assembled, to fit in the refrigerator for cooling, and to fit in the sink to drain brining liquid from the housing.

Provided are foodstuff treatment systems that are convertible between a processing mode in which foodstuffs are processed (e.g., disinfected) and a clean-in-place mode in which the system operates to clean material (e.g., biological buildup) that has accumulated within the system.

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.

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.

A rocker chiller includes a chilling tank and a baffle assembly. The baffle assembly includes a drive shaft, a baffle blade extending along a bottom of the tank and a plurality of spaced-apart and elongate baffle members extending in a radial direction from the drive shaft towards the bottom of the tank. The elongate baffle members contact the drive shaft at spaced-apart locations along the drive shaft and define a plurality of openings therebetween. The elongate baffle members are sized and shaped to push at least a majority of the carcasses laterally through the heat exchanging liquid in a direction generally orthogonal to a lengthwise forward movement of the carcasses from the first end of the tank to the second end of the tank.

Disclosed are various embodiments for a decontamination tank and method for treating reducing microbial contamination of a food product. In one embodiment, decontamination tank comprises a first chamber for holding a first antimicrobial bearing liquid for reducing a microbial contamination on a surface of the food product. The decontamination tank further comprises a second chamber for holding a second antimicrobial bearing liquid of different content than the first antimicrobial bearing liquid in the first chamber, for further reducing the microbial contamination on the surface of the food product. The decontamination tank further comprises a first unloader configured to remove the food product from the first antimicrobial bearing liquid in the first chamber and to deposit the food product toward the second chamber. The decontamination tank further comprises a second unloader configured to remove the food product from the second antimicrobial bearing liquid in the second chamber.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an auger dip apparatus for the application of antimicrobial solution to raw food. Embodiments of the present disclosure may use an auger as a single moving part to move the food work pieces through the application area for antimicrobial solution. Embodiments of the present disclosure are simple with only one moving auger part to move the food pieces, and the bearing for the moving part, supporting the shaft of the auger, may be configured to be outside of the cabinet with the reservoir of the antimicrobial solution, so that the bearing is not in contact with the antimicrobial solution. This provides for less maintenance and downtime, particularly unscheduled downtime, than a system using more complicated exposed parts. The present disclosure also permits a more compact and lighter configuration for an assembled application unit.