Patent ID: 8859025

Claim:
A method for separating fat particles from lean particles, comprising: providing diced beef pieces, wherein the diced beef pieces comprise fat and lean; lowering the temperature of the diced beef pieces to a first reduced temperature for the fat at which the fat is friable while simultaneously achieving a second reduced temperature for the lean at which the lean is flexible; crushing the beef pieces to liberate the fat without fracturing the lean and creating fat particles and lean particles; combining the fat particles and the lean particles with a fluid to provide a mixture; introducing the mixture to an inlet of a chamber, wherein the chamber has an upper outlet and a lower outlet distal to the inlet; irradiating the mixture with UVc energy as the mixture is transferred through the chamber; allowing particles less dense than the fluid to be carried out from the chamber through the upper outlet; and allowing the particles more dense than the fluid to be carried out from the chamber through the lower outlet.