A food processing system for processing food items that may be of variable size and shape, as the food items are being carried on a support surface of a conveyor, and removing the processed food items from the conveyor to deliver the food items to one or more desired locations, comprising: (a) a scanning system for scanning the food items and generating data pertaining to the physical specifications of the food items including the size and shapes of the food items and the locations of the food items on the conveyor; (b) a removal system for removing the food items from the conveyor to deliver the food items at a one or more desired locations, comprising: a first nozzle having an inlet opening shaped and sized to correspond to the shapes and sizes of the food items for receiving the food items into and through the first nozzle; a delivery subsystem in fluid receiving communication with the first nozzle for receiving the food items from the first nozzle and transporting the food items through the delivery subsystem and directing the food items in a desired direction or to a desired location; a vacuum generator generating a vacuum at the nozzle inlet opening; and an actuator to move and position the nozzle to desired positions relative to the food items; and (c) a control system receiving data from the scanning system including pertaining to the size and shape of the food items, and the location of the food items on the conveyor and controlling the actuator to position the nozzle with respect to the food item to enable the nozzle to pick up the food item, controlling the delivery subsystem to enable the delivery subsystem to deliver the food item at one or more desired locations; and controlling the operation of the vacuum generator, wherein the delivery subsystem comprises a tubular member in fluid communication with the first nozzle, the tubular member having an outlet directed at or directable to a desired direction or to a desired location for delivery of the food items, characterised in that the delivery subsystem further comprises an actuator acting on the outlet of the tubular member to direct the outlet at a desired direction or to a desired location for the delivery of the food items. (a) a scanning system for scanning the food items and generating data pertaining to the physical specifications of the food items including the size and shapes of the food items and the locations of the food items on the conveyor; (b) a removal system for removing the food items from the conveyor to deliver the food items at a one or more desired locations, comprising: a first nozzle having an inlet opening shaped and sized to correspond to the shapes and sizes of the food items for receiving the food items into and through the first nozzle; a delivery subsystem in fluid receiving communication with the first nozzle for receiving the food items from the first nozzle and transporting the food items through the delivery subsystem and directing the food items in a desired direction or to a desired location; a vacuum generator generating a vacuum at the nozzle inlet opening; and an actuator to move and position the nozzle to desired positions relative to the food items; and a first nozzle having an inlet opening shaped and sized to correspond to the shapes and sizes of the food items for receiving the food items into and through the first nozzle; a delivery subsystem in fluid receiving communication with the first nozzle for receiving the food items from the first nozzle and transporting the food items through the delivery subsystem and directing the food items in a desired direction or to a desired location; a vacuum generator generating a vacuum at the nozzle inlet opening; and an actuator to move and position the nozzle to desired positions relative to the food items; and (c) a control system receiving data from the scanning system including pertaining to the size and shape of the food items, and the location of the food items on the conveyor and controlling the actuator to position the nozzle with respect to the food item to enable the nozzle to pick up the food item, controlling the delivery subsystem to enable the delivery subsystem to deliver the food item at one or more desired locations; and controlling the operation of the vacuum generator, wherein the delivery subsystem comprises a tubular member in fluid communication with the first nozzle, the tubular member having an outlet directed at or directable to a desired direction or to a desired location for delivery of the food items, characterised in that the delivery subsystem further comprises an actuator acting on the outlet of the tubular member to direct the outlet at a desired direction or to a desired location for the delivery of the food items.