摘要:
The invention discloses edible anti-microbial food coating materials whose application to foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, cheese, or mushrooms results in a significant reduction in the population of microbial contaminants on the surface of the food product. In addition, the edible anti-microbial food coating materials protect the coated food from further microbial growth or contamination. These edible anti-microbial food coating materials contain materials that impart the anti-microbial characteristics. Ingredients that lower the pH of the coating materials result in coating materials that are anti-bacteria, while ingredients that are preservatives or mold inhibitors result in coating materials that are anti-mold and anti-yeast, The edible anti-microbial coating materials are applied to the surface of the food product in layers which are comprised of one or more of the following: adhering material, predust, batter, and crumbs. In addition, the edible anti-microbial coating materials can be manufactured to have a high water activity which also results in a breading product that browns more evenly and eliminates the known frostiness problem inherent in extruded crumb products.
摘要:
An extrusion system (10) is provided having an extruder (12), raw material input apparatus (14), dryer (16) and controller (18). The system (10) is equipped with strategically placed analyzers (22-26) designed to measure important parameters of the material input and the final extrudates; the analyzers (22-26) are coupled to controller (18), the latter also being operatively connected to the system components (12-16) for real-time operational control thereof. The analyzers (22-26) are preferably designed to generate analysis signals which pass through a cross-section of the material or extrudate, such as ultrasound, NIR or microwave analyzers.