Method and apparatus for aseptically processing a food product.

摘要

A method and apparatus are disclosed for continuously and gently aseptically processing a food product comprising delicate food chunks of fruit, vegetables or the like immersed in a liquid. The apparatus comprises a conveyor (28) for feeding food chunks (12) and a supply tube (36) for supplying liquid into a mixing hopper (32) and thence into a helical feed pump (44). An aseptic gas is also fed into the pump (44). As the food product and gas move through the helical pump the food is heated in a heating enclosure (68) to render it aseptic and then discharged into a separator (92) where the food and gas are separated.