Patent ID: 7322284

Claim:
An apparatus for exposing comminuted foodstuffs to a fluid, the apparatus including: (a) a contactor body including a foodstuff flow passage extending from a contactor body inlet end to a contactor body outlet end; (b) a foodstuff inlet comprising a portion of the foodstuff flow passage through the contactor body, the foodstuff inlet defining an inlet flow area; (c) a contact passage comprising a portion of the foodstuff flow passage through the contactor body; (d) a fluid chamber located within the contact passage, the fluid chamber including an outer surface spaced apart from an inner surface of the contact passage so as to define an annular contact flow area having a minimum transverse dimension smaller than a minimum transverse dimension of the inlet flow area; (e) a fluid communication arrangement providing fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the contact passage; and (f) a supply tube providing a fluid path from a point outside of the contactor body to an interior of the fluid chamber.