Meat+Poultry - December 2020 - 133

Poultry processing

share a vision
Humane treatment
Chicken well-being is a priority in Bell &
Evans' 100% Rule. For more than 20
years, Bell & Evans chickens have been
raised without antibiotics and within a
unique, low stress management system
from egg to farm to processing and
including transportation. Bell & Evans'
standards significantly exceed those of
USDA Certified Organic.
Bell & Evans focuses on animal wellbeing during transport from farm to
processing plant. Its farms are located
less than an hour's drive, on average,
from the processing facility and chickens
are transported in state-of-the-art live
bird transportation systems.

Minimize stress
As Bell & Evans' aim is to handle its
chickens with the utmost care, the
company partnered with Marel to
purchase the ATLAS automated transport
system. This system eliminates the use of
forklifts and minimizes stress during
unload. The reduction of noise, light,
sound and movement offers a smooth
transition from the trailer into
anesthetization.

In 2011 Bell & Evans first introduced Slow
Induction Anesthesia (SIA), a more
humane version of Controlled
Atmosphere Stunning. Humane
anesthesia was again high on the
priorities for the new processing plant. It
was, therefore, an easy decision for Bell &
Evans to opt for multistage CAS
SmoothFlow anesthetization.

Air chilling
Another key point of difference for Bell &
Evans is 100% air chilling. Other US
poultry processors produce chlorinated
water chilled chicken or use a mix of
water and air chilling. Since 2005, the
company has utilized 100% air chilling
for 100% of its chicken production, a
unique first in the industry. " The reason
why is obvious, " Scott Sechler notes. " Air
chilling is a significant contributor to the
tenderness and flavor of the meat as
compared to the conventional water
chilling system. Air chilling nets a better
product. If the goal is to produce the
best chicken possible, you should use it. "
Air chilling is Bell & Evans' way to
transform US food processing and
provide another level of quality to the

About Bell & Evans
Bell & Evans is America's oldest branded chicken company, celebrating 125 years of
business and over 10 years of organic production. Bell & Evans is the industry pioneer
of all-natural chicken and Raised Without Antibiotics and established the highest set of
animal welfare standards in the industry. From its World's First Organic Certified,
Animal-Welfare-Focused Chicken Hatchery to Slow Induction Anesthesia and 100% Air
Chill, Bell & Evans is passionate about raising chickens responsibly using common
sense practices to produce only premium chicken.

Go to: bellandevans.com

consumer. It's not surprising that the
company partners with Marel, for
decades the authority in air chilling with
a large technical patent portfolio.

European-like
Scott Sechler adds, " In our new plant, we
will build a conveyor line within our air
chill system to chill our giblets with the
chickens like they do in Europe. "
After 100% Air Chill, products are
distributed and cut-up in a Marel
ACM-NT line, including a Q-Wing
solution for wing part selection. Unique
to the US are the automated in-line thigh
and drumstick deboning systems,
already an upcoming trend in Europe. " In
fact, we're a European-minded company
that's located in the United States. "

Traceability from
farm to fork
Bell & Evans also commits 100% to
traceability. The traceability process in
the new Fredericksburg facility is unique
to the US. Right from entering the
processing plant until packaging, each
chicken can be traced back in the
process down to which flock and which
farm it came from. Marel's food
processing software Innova not only
ensures this traceability program but will
also connect all solutions throughout the
plant, collect and analyze data and offer
Bell & Evans plant staff the information
they need to run highly efficient
operations.
" Marel is the only company in the world
that has all the pieces figured out and in
place together to offer a truly remarkable
poultry processing system that I'm proud
to use in our new processing plant, "
concludes Scott Sechler.

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http://www.bellandevans.com
Meat+Poultry - December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meat+Poultry - December 2020
