Whereas the U.S. poultry processing sector continues to be targeted on bettering its effectivity and high quality of its merchandise, water consumption has additionally grow to be a precedence resulting from its direct affect on sustainability. Moreover, immersion chilling is likely one of the highest areas of water consumption within the processing sector and is the predominant chilling methodology used within the U.S.
In a dialogue evaluating air and immersion chilling, BAADER Poultry USA CEO Oliver Hahn, Marel Inc. regional gross sales director Jay Russel and SEE North America executive director of baggage and case-ready product advertising and marketing Shawn Harris gave perspective on the place the U.S. processing sector is headed on the 2024 Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit.
Air or immersion chilling?
Though air chilling sometimes requires a bigger funding for the producer and extra sq. footage within the processing plant, it affords a big financial savings on water and vitality utilization.
In accordance with Hahn, air chilling will enhance the U.S. processing sector’s water consumption and the trade will most probably transfer to air chilling as a complete within the subsequent 10 years.
“The know-how is there and has been for a very long time,” he stated.
In accordance with Russel, air chilling supplies benefits, outdoors of decreased water consumption, corresponding to taste enhancement, as a result of lack of water competing with taste, and might result in enhancements in cooking attributes corresponding to crispier pores and skin. Moreover, shelf life is improved with air chilling as a result of lack of further moisture, Russel stated.
The U.S. is the one market that also makes use of immersion chilling, outdoors of components of Brazil, added Russel. In Europe, poultry processors are required to make use of air chill. Immersion chilling is outlawed resulting from considerations concerning the bacterial load within the water.
Moreover, air chilling permits for extra transparency as a result of flock heaps can keep organized resulting from birds by no means being faraway from the shackles, which is advantageous to the producer and client.
In accordance with Harris, water consumption is likely one of the largest hurdles the U.S. processing sector might want to overcome within the subsequent 15-20 years, making air chilling a horny choice. That is due to decreased water entry in some areas of the U.S.
“Areas within the western U.S. are geographically tough to move the quantity of water wanted for immersion chilling to,” Harris stated. Additionally, Harris stated, immersion chilling is probably the most environment friendly of the 2 choices as a result of fast warmth switch that water permits.
Each choices provide benefits
All three specialists agreed immersion and air chilling provide benefits to poultry producers.
“There shall be a spot for each chilling processes, it simply relies upon how the producer desires to market its product,” Harris stated.
Hahn added: “Alternatives to save lots of water in processing are there. From the purpose of the patron, shoppers need much less water utilization. The tipping level is as soon as the vegetation can not use effectively water, that shall be when air chill outperforms from an financial perspective.”
It’s the trade’s duty to contemplate what’s finest for the producer, client and surroundings, added Russel.
“It come right down to what the producer desires to get out of the method,” he stated.
Attend the 2025 Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit
The 2025 Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit shall be held on the DeSoto Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, on July 28-30, 2025.
Serving a singular cross-section of the hen provide chain, the Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit explores points and tendencies in meals advertising and marketing and client hen consumption patterns and buying habits.
Registration will open in early 2025.
For extra data, go to: www.wattglobalmedia.com/chickenmarketingsummit/
