An apparatus for introducing dry ice pellets into fresh meat comprises a housing, in which an injection device for introducing dry ice pellets is arranged, and guide channels, which lead to a front face of the housing, for guiding a penetration needle, and a drive device for axially moving the penetration needle. A loading unit can be inserted between a rear portion and a front portion of the housing, which loading unit is provided with feedthroughs, which can be equipped with dry ice pellets and brought into a position in alignment with the guide channels. During operation of the apparatus, penetration channels are first produced, by means of the penetration needles, in a piece of meat to be cooled, into which penetration channels the dry ice pellets are subsequently introduced from the feedthroughs using the penetration needles. The feedthrough enables efficient introduction of dry ice pellets into the meat.