Continuous production and packaging of perishable goods in low oxygen environments

Abstract

Processing and packaging for perishable goods, such as beef, in a conduit wherein oxygen is substantially excluded and suitable gases such as carbon dioxide are provided at a suitable pressure and in such a manner as to increase the quantity of the gases dissolved in the perishable goods to extend the shelf life of the goods and decontaminate the goods.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A method for tracing, comprising: 
 associating information to a tagged animal carcass and a division of the animal's carcass by transferring the information to a carrying means for carrying a division.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising placing an animal carcass division in a container having a device capable of storing the information.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising slicing an animal portion and associating the slice with the information.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating a packaged division with the information.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising grading the animal carcass division before transferring the division to an operator.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising grinding the animal division and associating the ground division with the information.  
     
     
         7 . A method of tracing a good harvested from an animal, comprising: 
 associating information pertaining to the animal on a carrying means for the animal or its divisions.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information is stored on an RF ID tag.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the information includes the country of origin, place, or originating location of the animal.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising packaging the animal or its divisions into a package, wherein said package includes a mark, said mark being used to associate the information pertaining to the animal with the package.