초록 ▼

Various food processing methods and a food processing system minimize microbial growth while an animal, such as a chicken, is processed into food. During processing, temperature of an animal carcass and atmosphere surrounding the carcass are controlled by spraying gases and a mixture of ozone and wa

Various food processing methods and a food processing system minimize microbial growth while an animal, such as a chicken, is processed into food. During processing, temperature of an animal carcass and atmosphere surrounding the carcass are controlled by spraying gases and a mixture of ozone and water on the carcass, directing the gases through a passage in a wall to cool a processing area, and flowing the gases into atmosphere surrounding the carcass. Preferably, the gases include ozone and cryogenic gases recycled from a cryogenic freezer. The system uses a reduced amount of fresh water by recycling water used during food processing.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of processing a live animal into food so that microbial growth is minimized, comprising the steps of:slaughtering an animal to produce a carcass;draining blood from the carcass;conveying the carcass to a processing area;processing the carcass in the processing ar

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of processing a live animal into food so that microbial growth is minimized, comprising the steps of:slaughtering an animal to produce a carcass;draining blood from the carcass;conveying the carcass to a processing area;processing the carcass in the processing area to convert the carcass into food, wherein the carcass is not heated during the processing step; andcontrolling, immediately after the draining step and during substantially the entire processing step, temperature of the carcass with at least one substance selected from the group consisting of gas and a mixture of water and ozone.