Sometimes, Production of Healthier Food Requires a Step Back From the Most Current Technology
Mark Novak, Director of Operations, Global Organics, Ltd.
Mark Novak, Director of Operations, Global Organics, Ltd.
Problem – High volume processing facilities are designed around inputs that are pre-conditioned to maximize yield at minimum processing cost. When those facilities are asked to produce minimally, or less processed product meeting consumer expectations for clean labels or organic, systems and equipment often require adaptation.
Meat Processing
An Ohio based processor of Asian entrees and appetizers were commissioning the mechanization of a whole muscle-chicken nugget line. This involved replacing workers tossing marinated cut chicken in a highly customized breading mix with a mechanical breader. Essentially a rotating drum with vanes on the inside, cocked at an angle to facilitate movement of nuggets through the breading material and out the lower end.