TREATMENT OF AN ANIMAL CARCASS AFTER SLAUGHTERING

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step a) is performed less than 30 minutes after slaughtering.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: c) cooling the carcass (3).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein during step b) the oxygen concentration within the chamber (2) is maintained above 25%.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein during step b) the temperature of the carcass (3) is maintained above 30° C.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step b) the carcass (3) is heated.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) lasts at least 1 minute.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein during step b) a pressure within the chamber (2) is maintained between 0.2 and 800 mbar.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein during step b) a pressure within the chamber (2) is maintained between 1.2 and 10 bar.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein in step b) the carcass (3) is subjected to a jet of a gas comprising oxygen.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the animal is poultry.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) are performed as a continuous process.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps a) and b) are performed as a batch process.

14. A method of using oxygen 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 introducing the oxygen into the chamber (2) so as to maintain an oxygen concentration within the chamber (2) above 25%, and by maintaining a temperature of the carcass (3) above 10° C.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein during step b) the temperature of the carcass (3) is maintained above 30° C.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein during step b) a pressure within the chamber (2) is maintained between 0.2 and 800 mbar.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein during step b) a pressure within the chamber (2) is maintained between 1.2 and 10 bar.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein in step b) the carcass (3) is subjected to a jet of a gas comprising oxygen.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the animal is poultry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] It should be noted that the individual features specified in the claims may be combined with one another in any desired technologically reasonable manner and form further embodiments of the invention. The specification, in particular taken together with the figures, explains the invention further and specifies particularly preferred embodiments of the invention. Particularly preferred variants of the invention and the technical field will now be explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed figures. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures are not intended to restrict the invention. The figures are schematic and may not be to scale. The figures display:

[0052] FIG. 1: is a flow diagram of a method according to the invention for treating an animal carcass after slaughtering,

[0053] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a use according to the invention for treating an animal carcass after slaughtering, and

[0054] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a device for treating an animal carcass after slaughtering, in particular according to the method of FIG. 1 and/or according to the use of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0055] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for treating an animal carcass 3, in particular a poultry carcass, after slaughtering. The method is described using the reference numerals of FIG. 3. The method comprises:

[0056] a) less than 30 minutes, preferably less than 10 min, in particular less than 1 minute after slaughtering placing the carcass 3 into a chamber 2, and

[0057] b) disinfecting the carcass 3 within the chamber 2 for at least 1 minute, preferably for at least 15 minutes, in particular for at least 1 hour, by maintaining an oxygen concentration within the chamber 2 above 20%, in particular above 25%, maintaining a temperature of the carcass 3 above 10° C., in particular above 30° C., and, in particular, by maintaining a pressure within the chamber 2 between 0.2 and 800 mbar or between 1.2 and 10 bar and/or by heating the carcass 3 and/or by subjecting the carcass 3 to a jet of a gas comprising oxygen.

[0058] Steps a) and b) can be performed as a continuous process or as a batch process.

[0059] Preferably, the method further comprises the following step

[0060] c) cooling the carcass 3,

[0061] which is indicated by a dotted box in FIG. 1.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a use of oxygen for treating an animal carcass 3, in particular a poultry carcass, after slaughtering. The use is described using the reference numerals of FIG. 3. The use comprises:

[0063] A) placing the carcass 3 into a chamber 2, and

[0064] B) disinfecting the carcass 3 within the chamber 2 by introducing the oxygen into the chamber 2 so as to maintain an oxygen concentration within the chamber 2 above 25%, and by maintaining a temperature of the carcass 3 above 10° C.

[0065] FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a device 1 for treating an animal carcass 3 after slaughtering, in particular according to the method of FIG. 1 and/or according to the use of FIG. 2. The device 1 comprises a chamber 2, in which the carcass 3 can be treated, in particular disinfected. Within the chamber 2, the carcass 3 can be subjected to an atmosphere with an oxygen concentration above 20%, in particular above 25%.

[0066] In order to monitor the oxygen concentration, an oxygen sensor 6 is arranged within the chamber 2. The oxygen sensor 6 is configured for measuring the oxygen concentration. If the oxygen concentration is lower than a set value, oxygen from an oxygen tank 8 can be introduced into the chamber 2.

[0067] Further, a temperature sensor 5 is arranged within the chamber 2. The temperature sensor 5 is configured for measuring the temperature of the carcass 3. This temperature can be approximated by measuring the temperature in the proximity of the carcass 3. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 5 can be configured as an infrared sensor for measuring the surface temperature of the carcass 3. In particular in case the temperature falls below a set value, the carcass 3 can be heated by a heater 4.

[0068] The pressure within the chamber 2 can be monitored by means of a pressure sensor 7 arranged within the chamber 2. If the pressure deviates from a set value, a gas can be introduced into the chamber 2 or extracted from the chamber 2. The gas can be, for example, oxygen.

[0069] 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.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0070] 1 device

[0071] 2 chamber

[0072] 3 carcass

[0073] 4 heater

[0074] 5 temperature sensor

[0075] 6 oxygen sensor

[0076] 7 pressure sensor

[0077] 8 oxygen tank

[0078] It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.