Microbial reduction in a processing stream of a milled product

Abstract

A process for treating a milled product to reduce microbial activity at a high confidence level is disclosed. A sterile ready to eat milled product at a high confidence of sterility is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for microbial treatment of a milled product stream, the process comprising:
 providing a flowable stream of a milled product, wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is preconditioned to have a generally uniform predetermined moisture content throughout the stream, wherein the generally uniform predetermined moisture content throughout the stream is from about 12% to about 16%, wherein the generally uniform predetermined moisture content deviates less than about 0.5% throughout the stream;   conveying the flowable stream of the milled product through a radio frequency (RF) microbial reduction device, wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is heated to a temperature from about 170° F. to about 210° F. as the flowable stream of the milled product is conveyed through the microbial reduction device; and   after the flowable stream of the milled product is conveyed through the microbial reduction device, conveying the flowable stream of the milled product within a conveyance network having chilled air to cause a temperature reduction of the flowable stream of the milled product to about ambient temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is at least one member of a group comprising: a flowable stream of a flour, a flowable stream of a germ, a flowable stream of a bran, a flowable stream of grain, a flowable stream of oats, a flowable stream of rye, a flowable stream of barley, a flowable stream of an ingredient, a flowable stream of a spice, a flowable stream of a sugar, a flowable stream of a milled dehydrated vegetable, a flowable stream of a milled dehydrated fruit, and a flowable stream of a milled dehydrated pepper. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the flowable stream of milled product is preconditioned to have a generally uniform predetermined moisture content from about 12.5% moisture to about 14.5% moisture throughout the stream, wherein the generally uniform predetermined moisture content deviates less than about 0.2% throughout the stream. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency device is configured to generate a frequency at about 40 MHz. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is heated by the RF microbial reduction device to a temperature from about 180° F. to about 200° F. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance network is a network of duct. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the network of duct is a closed sanitary network of duct. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the closed sanitary network of duct is in communication with a heating element to cause a temperature increase of the closed sanitary network of duct. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the heating element is at least one member of a group comprising, a heating coil and an air heater. 
     
     
         10 . A sterile milled product produced according to the process of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A process for microbial treatment of a milled product stream, the process comprising:
 providing a flowable stream of a milled product, wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is precondition to have a generally uniform predetermined moisture content throughout the stream;   transporting the flowable stream of the milled product through a radio frequency (RF) microbial reduction device, wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is heated to a temperature from about 150° F. to about 240° F. while flowing through the RF microbial reduction device; and   after the flowable stream of the milled product is conveyed through the RF microbial reduction device, conveying the flowable stream of the milled product within a closed sanitary conveyance network to cause a temperature reduction of the flowable stream of the milled product.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is at least one member of a group comprising: a flowable stream of a flour, a flowable stream of a germ, a flowable stream of a bran, a flowable stream of grain, a flowable stream of oats, a flowable stream of rye, a flowable stream of barley, a flowable stream of an ingredient, a flowable stream of a spice, a flowable stream of a sugar, a flowable stream of a milled dehydrated vegetable, a flowable stream of a milled dehydrated fruit, and a flowable stream of a milled dehydrated pepper. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the RF microbial reduction device is configured to generate an RF frequency from about 20 MHz to about 2450 MHz. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein less than 10% of the flowable steam is denatured when the flowable stream of milled product is transported through a radio frequency (RF) microbial reduction device. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the closed sanitary conveyance network is a network of duct and the flowable stream of milled product is transported in the closed sanitary network of duct via chilled sanitary forced air. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising terminating the transport at a load-out device. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16 , wherein the load-out device is at least one member of a group comprising: a consumer bagging device, a bulk bagging device, a bulk transportation vehicle, and a food processing device. 
     
     
         18 . A sterile milled product produced according to the process of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         19 . A process for microbial treatment of a milled grain product stream, the process comprising:
 receiving a flowable stream of a milled grain product;   transporting the flowable stream of milled grain product to a moisture control device, wherein the moisture control device preconditions the flowable stream of milled grain product to have a generally uniform predetermined moisture content from about 12.5% to about 14.5% as the flowable stream of milled grain product passes through the moisture control device, wherein the generally uniform predetermined moisture content deviates less than about 0.5% throughout the stream, wherein at least a portion of the flowable stream has a microbial activity level;   after the flowable stream of milled grain product passes through the moisture control device, transporting, by a conveyance network, the flowable stream of milled grain product to a radio frequency (RF) microbial reduction device in-line with the conveyance network, wherein the RF microbial reduction device heats the flowable stream of milled grain product to a temperature from about 180° F. to about 200° F. as the flowable stream of milled grain product is conveyed through the RF microbial reduction device to cause a reduction in the microbial activity level of at least 3.0 log CFU/g and to cause less than 10% denaturation; and   after the flowable stream of milled grain product is conveyed through the RF microbial reduction device, conveying the flowable stream of milled grain product within the conveyance network by chilled forced air to cause a temperature reduction of the flowable stream of milled grain product to about ambient temperature.   
     
     
         20 . A sterile milled product produced according to the process of  claim 19 .