Whereas the U.S. poultry processing sector continues to be centered on bettering its effectivity and high quality of its merchandise, water consumption has additionally turn out to be a precedence as a result of its direct affect on sustainability. Moreover, immersion chilling is without doubt 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 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?
Regardless that air chilling usually requires a bigger funding for the producer and extra sq. footage within the processing plant, it gives a major financial savings on water and vitality utilization.
In response to Hahn, air chilling will enhance the U.S. processing sector’s water consumption and the business will almost certainly 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 mentioned.
In response to Russel, air chilling gives benefits, exterior of diminished water consumption, equivalent to taste enhancement, as a result of lack of water competing with taste, and may result in enhancements in cooking attributes equivalent to crispier pores and skin. Moreover, shelf life is improved with air chilling as a result of lack of further moisture, Russel mentioned.
The U.S. is the one market that also makes use of immersion chilling, exterior of elements of Brazil, added Russel. In Europe, poultry processors are required to make use of air chill. Immersion chilling is outlawed as a result of issues in regards to the bacterial load within the water.
Moreover, air chilling permits for extra transparency as a result of flock tons can keep organized as a result of birds by no means being faraway from the shackles, which is advantageous to the producer and shopper.
In response to Harris, water consumption is without doubt one of the largest hurdles the U.S. processing sector might want to overcome within the subsequent 15-20 years, making air chilling a gorgeous choice. That is due to diminished water entry in some areas of the U.S.
“Areas within the western U.S. are geographically troublesome to move the quantity of water wanted for immersion chilling to,” Harris mentioned. Additionally, Harris mentioned, immersion chilling is essentially the most environment friendly of the 2 choices as a result of fast warmth switch that water permits.
Each choices provide benefits
All three consultants agreed immersion and air chilling provide benefits to poultry producers.
“There might be a spot for each chilling processes, it simply relies upon how the producer desires to market its product,” Harris mentioned.
Hahn added: “Alternatives to save lots of water in processing are there. From the purpose of the patron, customers need much less water utilization. The tipping level is as soon as the vegetation can now not use effectively water, that might be when air chill outperforms from an financial perspective.”
It’s the business’s duty to think about what’s greatest for the producer, shopper and atmosphere, added Russel.
“It come all the way down to what the producer desires to get out of the method,” he mentioned.
Attend the 2025 Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit
The 2025 Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit might be held on the DeSoto Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, on July 28-30, 2025.
Serving a singular cross-section of the rooster provide chain, the Rooster Advertising and marketing Summit explores points and developments in meals advertising and shopper rooster consumption patterns and buying conduct.
Registration will open in early 2025.
For extra info, go to: www.wattglobalmedia.com/chickenmarketingsummit/
