Marlen Blog

Questions to Ask Your Food Processing Equipment Manufacturer

Does your company have the ability to design and engineer a food processing equipment solution around our application(s)? Food processors should look for an equipment manufacturer with decades of experience in the food processing industry who is committed to enabling customer success through trusted and robust solutions by offering application know-how, process expertise and engineering customization. Many food products are unique in nature and therefore processors need unique equipment solutions to deliver the products that consumers demand. It’s also important to find a partner who... Read More →

Key Factors for Food Dehydration

Utilization of Efficient Industrial Dehydrators for Optimal Food Product Uniformity The primary objectives during food dehydration are to achieve lethality requirements and desired finished product characteristics. Any inefficiency in dehydrator performance can have a negative impact on the quality, yield, and safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) processed meat and poultry products. All too often the dehydrator controls system is used as the sole source to determine performance metrics. However, it is equally important to periodically validate both the dehydrator and product performance to ensure that the... Read More →

Ask the Marlen experts: What makes the best industrial chillers?

History of Blast Chilling Cooked, partially cooked or “heat treated” meat and poultry products must be stabilized by cooling to prevent the growth of spore-forming bacteria. Best stabilization guidelines, FSIS Appendix B, require “that cooling be continuous through the given time/temperature control points”. But, how many or how few plant chilling devices can demonstrate control points being reached reliably so that random sampling of production lots can never challenge a plant’s validated processes? The Process of Chilling Meat Efficiently Requires More Than a Recipe The... Read More →

What Makes Marlen Vacuum Stuffers Unique?

Vacuum stuffing equipment plays a vital role in the finished product quality of meat and poultry products. It is important to understand the unique benefits of twin-piston vacuum stuffing and pumping systems and how they affect desired finished product characteristics. Below is a summary of the advantages of twin-piston technology for the pumping and stuffing of whole muscle, ground and comminuted products. Superior vacuum levels are achieved with Marlen’s twin-piston vacuum pumping design. This is mainly due to Marlen’s twin-piston and sleeve design. Through this... Read More →

COVID-19 in the Food Industry: What has changed?

Flexibility Is the New Normal in the Food Industry. The need for food manufacturers to serve the foodservice industry came to a complete halt during COVID-19 after restaurants and commissaries closed across the country and drove consumer demand from the foodservice channel to retail. Food producers immediately found themselves in a complex situation as many were focused on the specialization of prepared foods which was no longer needed, thus causing immediate supply chain disruptions. What we saw was a forced movement to flex in an... Read More →

Myths About Food Processing

There are a lot of myths that have surfaced over the years about food and meat processing. This causes an immense amount of confusion one has when they resolve to eat healthier. From connections with animal handling to food safety protocols, we’ve all seen a lot of misinformation circulating on traditional and social media channels. It is important to remember that there are risks and benefits to everything we eat and as consumers we must make logical and well-informed decisions by proactively seeking information from... Read More →

Best Sustainability Practices for the Food Supply Chain

Sustainability in the food industry is about reducing food waste and lowering the impact of food production on the natural environment as produce moves along the supply chain from field to processor to table. Sustainability does not just benefit the environment. By reducing food waste, limiting energy and water consumption, and creating more sustainable business models, food companies can increase profitability in the long run. Sustainability is vital along the entire food supply chain. Waste in one area can increase prices for all the companies... Read More →

What the Growing Demand for Vegan Options Means for the Food Industry

A vegetarian diet is one that excludes all animal meats, such as chicken or fish. A vegan diet excludes all animal meats and animal by-products, such as eggs or dairy. As of June 2017, about 6% of the U.S. population claimed to be vegan. Vegan and vegetarian diets are increasing in popularity, and consumers are demanding more plant-based food options when they grocery shop and go out to eat. The rising popularity of vegan and vegetarian food has caused a shift in the food industry.... Read More →

Reducing Operational Costs in Food Manufacturing

As a food processing or manufacturing industry professional, you’re probably well aware of the importance of your operational costs and how much they affect your bottom line. Saving energy, resources, labor, and time with efficient food processing equipment is the best way to ensure you’re keeping these costs as low as possible. As the global population continues to increase, the demand for food is also expected to increase by about 60% by 2050. According to the Office of Energy Consumption and Efficiency, the food industry... Read More →

What Are Processed Foods and Which Are Okay To Eat?

Processed food is any food that has been altered before you eat it. This may include deseeding, adding chemicals, cutting, or implementing any other type of process that changes the food before it is sold. With this loose and overarching definition, even carrot sticks could be considered processed foods since they were washed, sliced, and placed in a bag prior to consumption. Many assume the term “processed food” indicates a food has been altered in an unhealthy way before being placed on grocery store shelves.... Read More →

The Future of Global Food Systems

By 2030, the global population is expected to rise to 8.5 billion people. The global food system and the way food is grown, produced, distributed, and consumed is crucial when attempting to feed so many people. Efficiency, sustainability, and automation within the food industry are important components that must be addressed to ensure global food systems are productive enough to feed the rising population. As the population grows, the strategies and procedures used in global food production systems become even more crucial to the livelihood... Read More →

How to Restore Consumer Confidence After a Scandal

Scandals can happen in any industry and can be unexpected, making it hard to know how to take action and mitigate the situation quickly and effectively. As a food industry professional, you may never have to deal with a scandal in your business — but it’s important to understand how to recover effectively just in case you do face this type of situation. Fixing the issue that caused the scandal and rebuilding the consumer’s trust in your company are the two most important concerns to... Read More →

Supply Chain Management Trends in the Food Industry

In the food industry, the efficiency of the supply chain is vital to profitability and safety. When one link in the food supply chain, such as a farmer or packaging plant, isn’t operating at peak performance, every other link in the chain is negatively affected. Advanced technology in supply chain management has allowed food manufacturers that are willing to embrace new trends to explore more thoughtful and efficient processes. There are many opportunities within the food supply chain to increase efficiency, safety, and productivity. By... Read More →

How Automation Benefits the Food Industry

A business needs all of its components to operate together seamlessly because of stiff competition and tight margins in the food industry. You need skilled labor, the right types of equipment, strict quality control, an attractive brand, and effective management practices. You also need to abide by the many regulations and laws regarding safe production and food handling. The challenges associated with running a food business can grow if you achieve success. For example, demand can increase during specific seasons or because of particular events... Read More →

Sustainability in the Pet Food Industry

The idea of sustainability has become increasingly popular in the early 21st century. Not only are individuals looking for ways to apply eco-friendly practices and use sustainable products in their personal lives, but businesses and entire industries are finding ways to use sustainable practices in their operations. Some industries have embraced sustainability, while the idea still hasn’t caught on in other sectors. Pet food is one of the areas where eco-friendliness is not yet a common topic. Nonetheless, sustainability, environmental friendliness, and related topics are... Read More →

Reasons for Kitchen Equipment Failure

Professionals in the food industry rely on the functionality of their kitchen equipment to deliver consistent and safe products effectively to consumers. Kitchen equipment seldom lasts forever or performs perfectly at all times; under regular use without basic maintenance, you may even experience equipment failure. However, in most cases, this failure is preventable if you’re aware of the most common causes of breakdowns as well as how to avoid them. As a food industry professional, paying close attention to your kitchen equipment and ensuring you’re... Read More →