Meat decontamination

Details Meat decontamination Meat decontamination

1998-09-30

2000-11-07

Little, Willis

Butchering

Epidermal outgrowth remover

Scalding

452173, A22C 1708

Patent

active

061428612

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for decontamination of meat.
After a carcass of a slaughtered animal has passed through a number of physical processing stages in an abattoir, such as head removal, hide or pelt removal, evisceration, and carcass splitting, the carcass is usually moved to a chiller or cool room for temporary or medium term storage. Although processes and operations are carried out in a manner to minimise bacterial contamination, nevertheless the considerable handling and processing does result in surface contamination by micro-organisms from airborne micro-organisms and from contact with human operators, with other carcasses, and with apparatus. Hence, before taking a carcass to the storage facility, the carcass is decontaminated.
In the past, decontamination of carcasses has been carried out by a washing operation. For example, the carcass can pass by an installation where fixed sprays are located, the carcass being sprayed with a washing solution, such as an acetic acid solution, chlorine solution, or solution of other disinfectant or anti-microbial agent. Another known system, instead of using sprays of a decontaminating solution, uses a flume or curtain of falling solution through which the carcass passes so that the solution runs down and washes the surface of the carcass. It has also been proposed to use nozzles to direct steam at the carcass to contact and decontaminate the surface, or to enclose the carcass in a steam cabinet.
The known decontamination systems can suffer from a number of disadvantages. In particular, it can be difficult to design and construct installations where the treatment solution or steam contacts substantially the entire surface area of the carcass. This can result in significant areas of a carcass potentially contaminated with micro-organisms not being effectively decontaminated. Also, the use of solutions of anti-microbial agents can have particular problems, e.g. an acetic acid solution causes corrosion problems with metal components that can be contacted by the solution. Chemical tainting of carcasses can also be a potential problem. Steam decontamination can cause safety hazards for human operators.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process and apparatus for decontamination of meat which is effective in operation.
It is a preferred object of the present invention to provide a process and apparatus for decontamination of meat which can alleviate some or all of the problems with prior decontamination systems outlined above.
According to the present invention there is provided a process of decontaminating meat including the steps of: to a level sufficient to immerse the body of meat; decontaminating water rapidly enters the chamber to immerse the meat, creating substantial turbulence in the decontaminating water as it fills the chamber; and meat has been decontaminated.
By rapidly introducing into the chamber a volume of liquid sufficient to totally immerse the body of meat, there is substantial turbulence created in the decontaminating water entering the chamber. The turbulence of the water and bubbles in the water promotes effective contact between the decontaminating water and the surface area of the body of meat so that the decontaminating action of the water can be effectively achieved over the entire surface area. This action includes the physical removal of micro-organisms from the surface and collection in the water.
The volume of decontaminating water may be provided in a vessel in an elevated position relative to the chamber, the vessel being connected to the chamber through a supply passage of relatively large flow area so that the, volume of decontaminating water can flow quickly from the vessel into the chamber. The body of meat is preferably suspended from an overhead conveyor and is conveyed into the chamber through an entry opening and out of the chamber through an exit opening by movement of the body of meat along the conveyor, the body of meat being paused in its movement by the conveyor when it has ent

REFERENCES:
patent: 2549070 (1951-04-01), Drews
patent: 2649615 (1953-08-01), Sharp
patent: 3523326 (1970-08-01), Ambil
patent: 4279059 (1981-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4337549 (1982-07-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4407036 (1983-10-01), Kuhl
patent: 4965911 (1990-10-01), Davey
patent: 5045021 (1991-09-01), Borup
patent: 5232394 (1993-08-01), Conell, III et al.
patent: 5651730 (1997-07-01), McGinnis et al.
patent: 5938519 (1999-08-01), Wright

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Meat decontamination does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Meat decontamination, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Meat decontamination will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1635516