GB2526634A

GB2526634A - Cryogenic treatment apparatus and method for campylobacter

Info

Publication number: GB2526634A
Application number: GB1414443.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian King
Original assignee: Linde GmbH
Current assignee: Linde GmbH
Priority date: 2014-05-30
Filing date: 2014-08-14
Publication date: 2015-12-02
Also published as: GB201414443D0

Abstract

An apparatus 10 for destroying an organism on a surface of a carcass includes a delivery pipe 32 for a cryogenic substance, the delivery pipe constructed and arranged to discharge the cryogenic substance. A transport mechanism is disposed proximate to the delivery pipe and comprises a retaining member 50 for retaining the carcass during transport. The retained carcass is exposed to the cryogenic substance as it moves past the pipe. The apparatus can be used to destroy bacteria, such Campylobacter, on the surface of the carcass without freezing the body of the carcass. Also disclosed is method of destroying an organism on a surface of a carcass comprising transporting a carcass for exposure to a cryogenic substance for a select amount of time; and thermally shocking the organism for destruction without freezing the carcass.

Description

SPECIFICATION

CRYOGENIC TREATMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD

FOR CAMPYLOBACTER

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present embodiments relate to apparatus and methods to provide treatment to food products, such as poultry, for substantially destroying if not eliminating campylobacter on the products.

[0002] Campylobactor, meaning "twisted bacteria", is an organism recognized as one of the main causes of bacterial food borne disease in many countries, developed or otherwise. The common routes of transmission are fecal-oral, ingestion of contaminated food or water, and eating of raw meat. Campylobactor is therefore frequently uncovered on food products such as for example poultry being or awaiting to be processed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There is provided herein apparatus and method embodiments for treating food product carcasses, such as that of poultry, with a cryogenic substance in order to reduce if not eliminate live campylobacter bacteria on a surface or skin of the food product or carcass.

[0004] The inventive embodiments permit a continuous treatment to a flow of raw dead chickens hanging from support members such as for example shackles, to be exposed to a campylobacter destroying medium of cryogen. As the carcasses pass through the equipment they are contacted with a spray of atomised liquid nitrogen which destroys the campylobacter on the surface of each carcass by thermal shock; i.e. liquid nitrogen being at -196° C contacting the carcass. For purposes herein, "thermal shock" is a process by which or results from an apparatus wherein a temperature gradient caused by a cryogen substance breaks the walls of the individual cells of the campylobacter organism.

The shock upon the cell structure of the organism subjected to the low cryogenic temperature causes the cells of the organism to structurally fail, resulting in the destruction of the organism. The cryogenic substance of the present embodiments changes the temperature of the organism and its cells very quickly, i.e. a shock, overcoming any plasticity of the cells to structurally destroy same.

[0005] The embodiments allow a myriad of carcasses to be sprayed with liquid nitrogen and by so doing, killing the campylobacter on the skin of each carcass. In addition, the present embodiments do not freeze the carcass meat, as the time internal that each carcass is exposed to the fine cryogenic spray is not sufficient for the cold to penetrate into the meat. Hence, the campylobacter on the carcass skin is destroyed without the meat being frozen or affected.

Although chicken carcasses are referred to, the present embodiments are applicable as well to other animal carcasses to be processed for foodstuffs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0006] For a more complete understanding of the present embodiments, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing Figure, of which: [0007] The Figure shows an apparatus for treating a surface or skin of a carcass with a cryogen spray according to the present embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] For purposes herein, a cryogen or cryogenic substance is that which is at a temperature below -80°C (-112°F).

[0009] For purposes herein, a food product may be any ingestible product consumed by a human or other animal, such food product being for example an animal carcass, such as for example poultry. For purposes of the embodiments herein, a poultry carcass or poultry will be referred to as representative of the product to be treated for campylobacter, but it is understood that such reference

is for purposes of description, not of limitation.

[0010] Referring to the Figure, there is shown generally at 10 an apparatus of the present embodiments for treating animal carcasses, such as poultry, to substantially reduce if not eliminate campylobacter at the surface or skin of the carcass.

[0011] A spray of liquid nitrogen (LIN) within the apparatus onto the poultry produces if not eliminates an amount of campylobacter on a surface or skin of the poultry carcasses.

[0012] As shown in the Figure, the apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 consisting of a plurality of sidewalls 14 defining an internal chamber 16 within the housing. One of the sidewalls 14 is constructed as a top 18 of the housing 12, while an opposed one of the sidewalls is constructed as a bottom 20 of the housing. One of the sidewalls 14 can also be constructed as or provided with a door 22 to provide access to the internal chamber 16 of the housing. A pair of legs 24 support the housing 12 off an underlying surface 26, which may be a floor of a plant or factory.

[0013] The housing 12 includes an air circulation device 28, such as a fan or blower, mounted to one of the sidewalls 14 and in fluid communication with an atmosphere in the internal chamber 16. The fan 28 facilitates circulation of the atmosphere within the internal chamber 16.

[0014] At the top 18 of the housing 12, a hole 30 or aperture is provided through which a delivery pipe 32 is inserted and which has a distal end 33 in fluid communication with a source (not shown) of cryogen, such as for example [IN.

The delivery pipe 32 extends into the internal chamber 16 and branches at a collar 34 into a pair of pipe sections 36, 38 in spaced relation as shown in the Figure. The spacing between the pipe sections 36, 38 is for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The pipe section 36 has an open end 40, while the pipe section 38 has an open end 42. [IN provided from the delivery pipe 32 travels through the pipe sections 36, 38 to be exhausted from the open ends 40, 42 and introduced into the chamber 16 where it sublimes to a gas phase to be circulated by the fan 28 into a flow 44 around the internal chamber 16. The fan 28 can be speed controlled to vary the flow 44 of the cryogen atmosphere.

[0015] The apparatus 10 provides a tunnel freezer for food products, such as animal carcasses 46, to transit the interior chamber 16 and be subjected to the cryogen at a temperature of at least as low as -196° C to destroy the campylobacter. A moveable track 46 extends through a channel 48 also provided in the top 18 of the housing 12. The track can be of conventional construction and has extending therefrom a plurality of retaining members 50 or shackles sized, shaped and operatively constructed to secure a portion of the animal carcass 52 thereto. The space between the pipe sections 36, 38 is therefore wide enough to provide sufficient clearance for transit or passage of the carcass 52 therebetween, and also to allow for circulation of the flow 44 of cryogen to contact the carcass.

L00161 Each one of the open ends 40, 42 can also be provided with a corresponding spray nozzle 54, 56 which can be directed or aimed at the carcass 52 transiting between the pipe sections 36, 38. An arrangement of the spray nozzles 54, 56 can be adjusted for optimal use to destroy campylobacter on the surface or skin of the carcass 52. By way of example only, the cryogen can be sprayed to contact each of the carcasses for a period of time not to exceed sixty (60) seconds. Due to the perspective of the embodiment shown in the Figure, only pipe sections 36, 38 arranged as a pair are shown. However, another embodiment of the apparatus 10 can include a plurality of pairs of the piping between which the carcasses 52 can travel.

LOOITJ Any cryogen which does not contact the carcass 52 is circulated by the fan 28, and to the extent there is condensation such falls to the bottom 20 of the housing 12 for removal therefrom. In one embodiment, the bottom 20 is provided with a grade or angled portion as shown generally at 58 to facilitate a flow of the liquid condensate to one area of the bottom 20 where it can be removed through a drain 60 or the door 22.

[0018] The apparatus of the present embodiments reduces the amount of live campylobacter on the surface of a plurality of carcasses 52 passing through the apparatus 10. While the present embodiments are described with respect to destruction of campylobacter, it is understood that the present embodiments can be used with other meat products and with organisms other than campylobacter for destruction that are susceptible to cryogenic treatment.

L00191 It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary, and that one skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as described and claimed herein. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments of the invention may be combined to provide the desired result.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for destroying an organism on a surface of a carcass, comprising: a delivery pipe for a cryogenic substance, the delivery pipe constructed and arranged to discharge the cryogenic substance; and a transport mechanism disposed proximate to said delivery pipe and moveable with respect to said delivery pipe, said transport mechanism comprising a retaining member for retaining the carcass for transport and exposure to the cryogenic substance, and being moveable to pass through the cryogenic substance.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing including a chamber therein, said chamber sized and shaped to receive a portion of said delivery pipe terminating in said chamber and at least said retaining member of said transport mechanism.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a slot through which said transport mechanism travels such that said retaining member is disposed for movement in said chamber.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said slot extends along a length of said housing.
5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a bottom disposed at an angle with respect to the chamber.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery pipe comprises a first branch and a second branch spaced apart from the first branch for providing a space therebetween of sufficient size to receive the retaining member to transit through said space.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said first branch comprises at least one first outlet from which the cryogenic substance can be discharged, and said second branch comprises at least one second outlet from which said cryogenic substance can be discharged.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first branch comprises a first nozzle disposed at said at least one first outlet, and said second branch comprises a second nozzle disposed at said at least one second outlet.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of said first and second nozzles are disposed in a direction toward a path of travel of said retaining member.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a circulation device for circulating air flow and the cryogenic substance to said at least one carcass.
11. A method of destroying an organism on a surface of a carcass, comprising: providing a cryogenic substance; transporting at least one carcass for exposure to said cryogenic substance; contacting said at least one carcass with the cryogenic substance for a select amount of time; and thermally shocking the organism for destruction of same upon the contacting with the cryogenic substance without freezing said carcass.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cryogenic substance comprises liquid nitrogen.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the contacting comprises spraying the cryogenic substance from a plurality of directions onto the at least one carcass.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transporting comprises moving the at least one carcass through a housing.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising circulating the cryogenic substance in a flow for contacting the at least one carcass.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the select amount of time is not more than 60 seconds for each one of the at least one carcass.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a plurality of carcasses during the transporting for the contacting the plurality of carcasses with the cryogenic substance.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a tunnel freezer.