WO2019121639A1

WO2019121639A1 - Identification of spoiled products by detection of biogenic amines

Info

Publication number: WO2019121639A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/085429
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Steffen; Volker Ribitsch
Original assignee: Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-12-22
Filing date: 2018-12-18
Publication date: 2019-06-27
Also published as: EP3729075A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food-processing system having at least one food-processing device and at least one conveying device for conveying food products in a conveying direction from the food-processing device and/or to the food-processing device, wherein at least one detection device for detecting, in particular contactlessly, biogenic amines is situated upstream and/or downstream of the food-processing device in the conveying direction.

Description

Detection of spoiled products by detection of biogenic amines

The present invention relates to a food processing plant with at least one food processing device and at least one conveying device for

Conveying food products along a conveying direction of the

Food processing device and / or to the food processing apparatus and a method for the detection of biogenic amines in food products in a food processing plant.

Food processing plants process food on an industrial scale. In this case, raw food products can be processed, for example, cooked, or already at least partially prepared food products are further processed, for example, cut and / or packaged.

In any case, it is crucial to detect and discard products that have been completely or partially spoiled early so that several products do not spoil, for example in a common packaging, but also so as not to contaminate the food processing plant.

It is already known that especially in protein-containing foods such as meat,

Cheese or fish decomposes amino acids into so-called biogenic amines

being transformed. These biogenic amines are volatile and can be detected in the ambient air of the respective food product.

For example, from the prior art, packaging is known which, via a color change of an indicator strip, a spoiled food product in the

Signal packaging.

However, there are no known methods that during operation of a

Food processing plant can be used to detect spoiled products.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a

To provide a food processing plant and a method for the detection of biogenic amines in food products in a food processing plant, with which biogenic amines can be detected in particular even during operation of the conveyor.

The object is achieved by a food processing plant with at least one food processing device and at least one conveying device for

Conveying food products along a conveying direction of the

Food processing device and / or to the food processing device, wherein upstream and / or downstream of the food processing device along the conveying direction at least one detection device for, in particular non-contact, detection of biogenic amines is arranged.

Conveying food products along a conveying direction of the

Food processing device and / or to the food processing device. A food processing plant is any plant that serves the processing of food, this includes in particular the production, (further) processing and packaging. Foods in the context of the present invention are preferably protein-containing foods such as cheese, meat, fish, eggs, ice cream and / or other food products containing protein. The food processing plant comprises at least one food processing device. Preferably, a food processing device is a balance, a scanner, a

Slicer, an oven, a cooling device, a freezer, an injector, in particular a marinade injector and / or a former. The food processing plant particularly preferably comprises several of these food processing devices. The individual devices of the food processing plant are connected by at least one conveying device, or a conveying device feeds and / or discharges food products to the food processing device. Such a conveying device preferably comprises a single or multi-track conveyor belt, in particular a

Endless belt. Particularly preferably, the conveyor device comprises independently movable modules. Most preferably, the conveying device comprises a

Sorter, a buffer and / or a gripper for transferring

Food products.

According to the invention, it is now provided that at least one upstream and / or downstream of the food processing device along the conveying direction

Detection device for, in particular non-contact, detection of biogenic amines is arranged. This means, in particular, that the food products are examined before and / or after processing in the food processing apparatus for possible decomposition or decomposition. Preferably, the

Food products downstream of the food processing device examined by the detection device. Thus, it can be prevented that decaying

Food products can get into a packaging, which is therefore unusable or even harmful to health. However, the detection device is particularly preferably provided upstream of the food processing device, so that

Food products lacking freshness even before an energy and / or

time-consuming processing can be sorted out. This also avoids possible contamination of the food processing device.

It is possible with the food processing plant according to the invention in an advantageous manner to control food products on their freshness and deficient

Quickly and easily identify and dispose of food products. Especially in the initial stage of decomposition or decomposition process is this one

Food product usually neither reliable to look at and / or smell. But by a detection device according to the invention are also such

Food products reliably identifiable.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the detection device has an optical and / or optochemical sensor. Particularly preferably, the sensor is an infrared spectroscopy sensor. Even more preferably, the sensor comprises at least one laser diode, in particular an infrared laser diode, and at least one detector, the detector being sensitive in the frequency range of the absorption frequency of the amines to be detected. Infrared spectroscopy is already well known and based on molecules, here the biogenic amines to be detected by means of a

To stimulate energy source and detect the radiation emitted in a row radiation and analyze accordingly. The fact that the detection device has an infrared spectroscopy sensor, can be in a simple and fast way the

Check the ambient air of the food product to be analyzed for the presence of the rotting / decay / decomposition process indicating biogenic amines.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the detection device for the detection of ethanolamine, aminopropanol, b-alanine, g-aminobutyric acid, cysteamine, propylamine / methamine, methylamine, agmatine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, dopamine, tryptamine and / or serotonin is set up. Histamine and tyramine are usually weakly volatile. Particularly preferably, the concentration of cadaverine, putrescine and / or methylamine in the ambient air of the food product is measured. High concentrations of these amines indicate a decay process in a particularly advantageous manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the sensor is arranged above and / or below the conveying device. Particularly preferably, the detection device has at least two spaced-apart in the conveying direction

Sensors on, with one sensor above and the other sensor below the

Detection device is arranged. In this way, advantageously, the condition of relatively thick food products can be reliably detected.

According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the detection device comprises a collecting area, in particular a funnel-shaped collecting area, wherein the sensor is arranged in the collecting area. It is advantageous that the

Ambient air is collected in the collection area and passed to the sensor, so that even with a single sensor, the ambient air of a food product is reliably analyzed.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the detection device has a device for generating an air flow, wherein the device for generating an air flow, preferably a fan, which is arranged in particular on the side facing away from the sensor side of the conveying device, and / or a

Suction device, which is particularly preferably in the vicinity of the sensor, in particular on the sensor-facing side of the conveyor device, arranged comprises.

This makes it possible in an advantageous manner to improve the detection by the ambient air is selectively supplied to the sensor.

According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the detection device is configured such that the detection at, in particular continuously, running

Conveying device takes place. By this is to be understood that the conveying device continues in its movement without being influenced in its movement by the detection device. In particular, the conveying device can operate continuously and / or intermittently as a function of the upstream and / or downstream food processing device. This makes it possible in a particularly advantageous manner, even with a continuous conveyor belt to detect biogenic amines without loss of time. According to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the

Detection speed of the detection device is 0.01 ms to 1000 ms, preferably 0.1 ms to 100 ms, more preferably 1 ms-10 ms.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the detection sensitivity of the detection device for at least one biogenic amine is in the range from 0.01 ppm to 1000 ppm, preferably 0.1 ppm to 100 ppm, more preferably 1 ppm to 10 ppm.

Another object of the present invention is a method for the detection of biogenic amines in food products in a novel

Food processing plant, wherein a food product before and / or after a processing step in the food processing device during the

Carriage operation of the conveying device is guided by the detection device, wherein the detection device detects the concentration of at least one biogenic amine in the ambient air of the food product. The transport process can be carried out continuously and / or intermittently in the area of the detection device. As a result, it is advantageously possible to use an in-line detection process for reliable and

to implement non-destructive detection of biogenic amines in a food processing plant.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the figures. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. The explanations apply equally to all articles of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a food processing plant according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a detection device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a detection device according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a detection device according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention

Invention. FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a food processing installation 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The

Food processing plant 10 includes at least one, shown here centrally, food processing device 1 1, for example, an oven or a

Slicing. Of course, the food processing plant 10 may also have other food processing devices 11 ', for example, scales, scanners, packaging machines, etc.

A conveying device 3, or several conveying devices 3, 3 'convey thereby

Food products 2 in a conveying direction A to the

Food processing apparatus 1 1 and carry the processed, for example cooked and / or sliced food products, from the

Food processing device 1 1 way, for example to a

Packaging machine. In the present case, the conveying device 3 is designed as an endless transport belt by way of example. The conveying direction A is shown here linear, but may have any shapes, for example spirally or circularly.

The skilled person understands that a food product 2 does not have to correspond to a single food product 2 'before processing in the food processing device. For example, a Lebensellellaib 2 by the

Food processing device 11 into a plurality of food slices 2 'divided.

According to the invention, a detection device 12 is now arranged upstream of the food processing device 11, which checks the food products 2 for their state before processing. By state is meant a freshness state, or a decay / decomposition / decomposition state. For this purpose, biogenic amines are detected which, at least in a sufficiently high concentration, indicate decay.

If a concentration indicative of decay is one or more of the biogenic amines, preferably ethanolamine, aminopropanol, b-alanine, g-aminobutyric acid,

Cysteamine, propylamine / methamine, methylamine, agmatine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, dopamine, tryptamine and / or serotonin, particularly preferably histamine, tyramine, cadaverine, putrescine and / or methylamine detected, the relevant food product 2 can be discharged immediately and / or disposed of. Of course, alternatively or additionally downstream

Food processing device 11, a detection device 12 may be provided. This is indicated by dashed lines.

It is possible, but not essential, that the movement of the conveyor device 3 upstream of the food processing device 1 1 of the movement of the conveyor 3 downstream of the

Food processing device 1 1 different. For example, the

Food products 2 upstream cyclically fed to the food processing device 1 1, while the food products 2 downstream of the

Food processing device 11 are continuously discharged. Of course, this can also be done the other way around.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a detection device 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The conveyor 3 conveys the food products 2 here from right to left. In this case, the detection device 12 shown here comprises two different and along the conveying direction A spaced-apart sensors 5. The first sensor 5 is above the

Conveyor 3 and the food product 2 arranged. It is an infrared spectrometer. This consists for example of an infrared laser to excite the molecules of the air and a detector for measuring the emitted radiation. For this purpose, the detector is sensitive in particular in the region of the absorption frequency of one or more of the biogenic amines to be detected.

Preferably, a separate sensor 5 is provided for significantly different absorption frequency ranges. Alternatively, a sensor 5 is set up to detect several of the biogenic amines.

In order to detect the volatile amines leaving the food product 2, the sensor 5 is arranged here in a funnel-shaped collecting region 4. The

Collection area 4 is connected to a suction device 6, which is indicated here by a corresponding hose. The aspirator sucks in the ambient air of the food product 2 and supplies it to the collecting area 4 and thus to the sensor 5, which detects possible biogenic amines and, for example, outputs an alarm when exceeding a predetermined concentration and / or discharges the relevant food product 2. The detection area shown on the left in Fig. 2 is constructed analogously to the above-described detection area on the right, wherein the sensor 5, the collecting area 4 and the suction device 6 here below the conveyor 3 and the

Food product 2 are arranged. Especially with food products with a large extent in the surface of the conveyor device 3 and / or perpendicular thereto, it is helpful to examine the ambient air on both sides of the food product 2.

The person skilled in the art understands that additional or alternative detection areas can also have other spatial arrangements, for example to one or both sides of the conveyor device 3.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a detection device 12 according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this case, this embodiment substantially corresponds to the embodiment discussed in connection with FIG. 2, for which reason reference is made to the relevant explanations. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, here no suction device 6, but a fan 1 is provided, which is arranged on the opposite side of the conveyor 3 with respect to the sensor. Thus, for example, the first sensor in the conveying direction A is arranged above the conveying device 3 in the collecting region 4. The blower 1 is in this case below the

Conveying device 3 is arranged to blow the ambient air into the collecting area 4 and to the sensor 5.

Once again, the second sensor is mirror-inverted with respect to the conveying device 3.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a detection device 12 according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this case, this embodiment substantially corresponds to the embodiments discussed in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, for which reason reference is made to the relevant explanations. In contrast to the previously explained embodiments, however, a combination of a blower 1 and a suction device 6 is provided here. This has the advantage that turbulent flows can occur, in particular during a rapid movement of the conveying device 3, which can make detection more difficult. The combination of suction and blowing of the ambient air enables a reliable supply of the ambient air to the sensor 5. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 fan

2 food product

3 conveyor

4 collection area

5 sensor

6 aspirator

10 food processing plant

1 1 food processing device

12 detection device

A conveying direction

Claims

claims:

1. Food processing plant (10) with at least one

Food processing device (11) and at least one conveying device

(3) for conveying food products (2) along a conveying direction (A) of the food processing device (11) and / or to the

Food processing device (11), characterized in that

upstream and / or downstream of the food processing device (11) along the conveying direction (A) at least one detection device (12) for, in particular non-contact, detection of biogenic amines is arranged.

2. Food processing plant (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection device (12) has an optical and / or optochemical sensor (5).

3. Food processing plant (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (12) for the detection of ethanolamine, aminopropanol, b-alanine, g-aminobutyric acid, cysteamine,

Propylamine / methamine, methylamine, agmatine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine, dopamine, tryptamine and / or serotonin.

4. Food processing plant (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (5) above and / or below the conveying device (3) is arranged.

5. Food processing system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (12) has a collecting area

(4), in particular a funnel-shaped collecting area (4), wherein the sensor

(5) is arranged in the collecting area (4).

6. Food processing system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (12) comprises a device for generating an air flow, wherein the device for generating an air flow, preferably a blower (1), which in particular on that of the sensor (5) on the opposite side of the conveying device (3) is arranged, and / or a suction device (6), which particularly preferably in the vicinity of the sensor (5), in particular on the sensor (5) facing side of the conveying device (3), is arranged comprises.

7. Food processing system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (12) is configured such that the detection at, in particular continuously, running conveyor device (3).

8. Food processing plant (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection speed of the

Detection device (12) is 0.01 ms to 1000 ms, preferably 0.1 ms to 100 ms, particularly preferably 1 ms-10 ms.

9. Food processing plant (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection sensitivity of the detection device (12) in the range of 0.01 ppm to 1000ppm, preferably 0.1 ppm to 100ppm, more preferably 1 ppm to 10ppm.

10. A method for the detection of biogenic amines in food products (2) in a food processing plant (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a food product (2) before and / or after a processing step in the food processing device (11) during the conveying process of the conveyor ( 3) is guided by the detection device (12), wherein the detection device (12) detects the concentration of at least one biogenic amine in the ambient air of the food product (2).