Abstract
The present invention relates to a method to treat insects in order to produce a human nutrition and/or an animal feed. The treatment involves at reducing and preferably stopping the autolysis of the insects, preferably using a cooling treatment step. The present invention further relates to a line to process insects.
Claims
1. Method to treat insects to produce a human nutrition and/or an animal feed, wherein autolysis of the insects is reduced or stopped.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of the insects is reduced to or below 10 C. within 0.5 seconds to 45 minutes.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the insects are cooled down to a temperature of 2 C. to 40 C.
4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the insects are subjected to a liquid and/or gaseous cooling medium.
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the insects are agitated during cooling.
6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the insects are killed during cold treatment.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried out as a continuous or discontinuous process.
8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried out in a tumbler or a mixer.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the insects are at least partially wetted with a liquid cooling agent.
10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the insects are subjected to a cold gas or cold air.
11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the insects are provided on transport means, which transports the insects through a freezer.
12. Method according to claim 1, wherein an ingredient is added to the insects and the insects and the ingredient are mixed.
13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the insects are ground prior and/or after addition of an ingredient.
14. Line to process insects wherein the line comprises a cooling apparatus, an ingredient supply, and a grinder.
15. Line according to claim 14, wherein the line comprises a mixer, a tumbler, and a freezer.
Description
[0037] The inventions are now explained according to the Figures. These explanations do not limit the scope of protection and apply to all embodiments of the present invention likewise.
[0038] FIGS. 1-3 each depict an embodiment of the inventive method and the inventive line.
[0039] FIG. 4 depicts the posttreatment step.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The insects, dead or alive, are provided to a cooling step 1, which may be a batch or a continuous apparatus. In this apparatus 1 the core temperature of the insects is rapidly reduced to 2 C., preferably less, more preferably to less than 40 C. The cooling can take place by means of a liquid or gaseous cooling medium. A liquid cooling medium is for example liquid Nitrogen and/or liquid Carbon-Dioxide and/or liquid air or a mixture thereof. A gaseous cooling medium is for example air. After the cooling step 1, there may be a separation step in which the frozen insects are separated from the liquid cooling agents. The insects preferably exit the cooling step 1 with a temperature so low that during the entire downstream processing the temperature of the insects or the resulting product remains so low that no or little enzyme activity occurs, at least as long as the enzymes are still activatable. Preferably, the cooling step will take place in a mixer, wherein paddles are rotating, more preferably in a gentle way, such that each and every insect is treated in the same way. Subsequently, a grinding step 2 is provided. This grinding step may be carried out in a grinder, which comprise a rotating knife and a holed plate, which preferably divide each insect into multiple parts. If needed the grinder may be cooled. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature of the insects is so low after the cooling that even the energy input due the grinding does not raise the temperature of the insects or the ground insects above an undesired level, i.e. a temperature level at which enzymatic degradation kicks in. In the present example, ingredients like spices, water or the like is added to the grinder and mixed with the insects. The ground and ingredients comprising insect-product 5 exits the grinder. Each process step in the line is either continuous or batch.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Reference can be made to the disclosure regarding FIG. 1. In the present case a mixer 9 is provided between the cooling step and the grinder and the ingredients are added to the mixer 9. The person skilled in the art understands that the temperature of the insects after the cooling is so low that also the energy provided to the insects in the mixer does not result in an undesired temperature rise.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention. In the present the ground mixture is mixed with ingredients, for example spices and/or water or the like in a mixer 9, which is provided downstream from the grinder. Other than that reference is made to the disclosure regarding FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0043] FIG. 4 discloses a further processing step 7. Prior to further processing, the ground and ingredients comprising product may be stored at a temperature such that no enzymatic activity occurs, preferably at a temperature below 18 C. The further processing step may be battering, coating, frying, cooking and/or packaging.
REFERENCE-SIGNS
[0044] 1 Cooling, cooling step [0045] 2 Grinding [0046] 3 Ingredient supply [0047] 4 untreated insects [0048] 5 pretreated insects [0049] 6 storage [0050] 7 post treatment step, further processing [0051] 8 treated insects [0052] 9 mixer
