GB393935A - Improvements relating to the storage and preservation of meat - Google Patents

Abstract

Beef is preserved by a single stage process in a gaseous atmosphere at a suitable temperature by simultaneously withdrawing or displacing air from the beef storage chamber and replacing it by carbon dioxide alone or mixed with nitrogen so that the atmosphere in the chamber contains more carbon dioxide than oxygen, the chamber being at substantially atmospheric pressure. The gaseous atmosphere may contain about 10-17 per cent of oxygen, and about 20-50 per cent of carbon dioxide, the remainder being nitrogen, and the storage temperature may be 30-34 DEG F. The storage chambers may be such as are used for storing and transporting beef under chilled conditions but made gas-tight and provided with gas inlet passages and with outlet passages for the displaced air and vapours, pumps and fans being provided for accelerating the displacement of the air. When enough gas has been introduced, the atmosphere inside the chamber is circulated, e.g. for 10 minutes, by a fan or air pump to obtain good mixing of the air and gas. Means may be provided for circulating the atmosphere through an oxygen absorbing medium and for subjecting it to a liquefaction process to separate desired and undesired constituents. Part of the atmosphere in the chamber may be replaced from time to time or continuously by fresh preserving gas or gas freshened by removal therefrom of part of its constituents, for example oxygen or emanations from the carcasses. Part or all of the atmosphere may be replaced from time to time for a short period by pure nitrogen or fresh air to prevent adaptation of the bacteria to the new environment. The carbon dioxide may be supplied from cylinders containing it in compressed or liquid form or from generating apparatus or by vaporizing solid carbon dioxide. Mixtures of carbon dioxide and nitrogen used may be products of combustion or produced by absorption of oxygen from air. Specifications 318,534, [Class 49, Food &c.], 391,256 and 393,663 are referred to. The Provisional Specification also describes the preservation of other perishable tissues, e.g. mutton, bacon, fowls and game, and refers to the use of an atmosphere containing carbon dioxide as the main constituent, e.g. about 95 per cent of carbon dioxide and about 2 p per cent or less of oxygen.