Systems and methods for packaging food products, such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. Specifically, the described methods relate to systems and methods for packaging food products in a manner that increases the products' shelf life. Generally, the methods begin by providing a food product. In some cases, debris is removed from the food product. To kill bacteria and other microbes on the food product, the food product is optionally washed in ozonated water. To deactivate enzymes within the food product, the food product is heated, though not necessarily cooked or blanched. The food product is then typically sealed in a barrier package containing between about 1 percent and about 50 percent oxygen, by volume. In some cases, the sealed package is then heated to between about 165 and about 285 degrees Fahrenheit to kill microbes in the sealed package. Other implementations are also described.

Systems and methods for packaging food products, such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. Specifically, the described methods relate to systems and methods for packaging food products in a manner that increases the products' shelf life. Generally, the methods begin by providing a food product. In some cases, debris is removed from the food product. To kill bacteria and other microbes on the food product, the food product is optionally washed in ozonated water. To deactivate enzymes within the food product, the food product is heated, though not necessarily cooked or blanched. The food product is then typically sealed in a barrier package containing between about 1 percent and about 50 percent oxygen, by volume. In some cases, the sealed package is then heated to between about 165 and about 285 degrees Fahrenheit to kill microbes in the sealed package. Other implementations are also described.

A method and apparatus for reducing pathogens in successive pre-measured units of a flowable food product without substantially increasing the head height requirement of a feed production system. A plurality of containers are moved about a path within a housing. The path has a plurality of stations, such as a receiving station, one or more sanitizing stations, and a dispensing station, and a container cleaning station. A pre-measured unit of the flowable food product is received at the receiving station into a container. The pre-measured unit of the flowable food product is exposed to one or more sanitizing agents at one or more sanitizing stations. The pre-measured unit of the flowable food product is dispensed into the packaging device at the dispensing station. The containers are then cleaned at the container cleaning station to prepare each container to receive a subsequent pre-quantified unit of the flowable feed product.

A method and apparatus for reducing pathogens in successive pre-measured units of a flowable food product without substantially increasing the head height requirement of a feed production system. A plurality of containers are moved about a path within a housing. The path has a plurality of stations, such as a receiving station, one or more sanitizing stations, and a dispensing station, and a container cleaning station. A pre-measured unit of the flowable food product is received at the receiving station into a container. The pre-measured unit of the flowable food product is exposed to one or more sanitizing agents at one or more sanitizing stations. The pre-measured unit of the flowable food product is dispensed into the packaging device at the dispensing station. The containers are then cleaned at the container cleaning station to prepare each container to receive a subsequent pre-quantified unit of the flowable feed product.

A powder sterilization method for sterilizing powder, in particular an active pharmaceutical ingredient in powder form or food in powder form, using fluid vapor, in particular steam. According to the invention, the fluid vapor is applied to the powder in an evacuated treatment chamber (3), in particular it is applied to the powder during its free fall along a drop section (7), in particular in countercurrent.

A powder sterilization method for sterilizing powder, in particular an active pharmaceutical ingredient in powder form or food in powder form, using fluid vapor, in particular steam. According to the invention, the fluid vapor is applied to the powder in an evacuated treatment chamber (3), in particular it is applied to the powder during its free fall along a drop section (7), in particular in countercurrent.

The disclosure relates to preparation, processing, and packaging of fresh foods, particularly proteins. In various implementations, the methods include steps for ozone exposure, reduction of surface moisture, introduction of a modified atmosphere, and high pressure pasteurization. Prior to packaging the protein may be exposed to ozone and undergo dehydration to reduce the amount of moisture on the surface of the protein. The protein may then be packaged in a modified atmosphere, lacking oxygen, and then undergo high-pressure pasteurization.

A method of canning and processing a particulate edible product, the method comprising: providing a metal can body with one open end; filling the metal can body through said open end with the particulate edible product and a volume of liquid, the volume of liquid comprising no more than 30% of the internal volume of the metal can; fixing a lid to the metal can body to close the open end; and using an induction heating process to heat the liquid in the can and thereby process the product.

A method of canning and processing a particulate edible product, the method comprising: providing a metal can body with one open end; filling the metal can body through said open end with the particulate edible product and a volume of liquid, the volume of liquid comprising no more than 30% of the internal volume of the metal can; fixing a lid to the metal can body to close the open end; and using an induction heating process to heat the liquid in the can and thereby process the product.

Disclosed herein is a method for allowing forming & sealing films to be embossed/debossed with various shapes such as geometric, organic, or fractal and/or combination and various dimensions and depths. The texture or pattern is transferred to the film from an insert. The pattern on the forming & sealing film is then transferred onto the surface of the various proteins including but not limited to chicken, turkey, beef, pork, and plant proteins during the form-fill-seal and cook process. The forming and/or sealing inserts can form various thermoforming films with functional and/or decorative embossing and/or debossing without the use of knitted, elastic, extruded, tightly weaved, plastic netting, and/or compression forming molds and/or release agents for netting removal. Since the forming inserts are constructed using additive manufacturing processes, almost any design can be embossed/debossed onto the forming & sealing film.