Apparatus and a method for producing a mix of at least two food products where the mix fulfils at least two target criteria

A method for producing a mix of a first type of food products and at least one second type of food products so that the mix fulfils target criteria, the method comprising:

• producing the mix by
• supplying at least one stream of the first type of food products via at least one first in-feed channel, wherein the first type of food products includes frozen trim;
• supplying at least two separate streams of the at least one second type of food products via at least two second in-feed channels, wherein the at least two separate streams of the second type of food products are distinguished from each other based on each of the two separate streams having a different previously-obtained lean/fat ratio estimate, the at least two separate streams being independently controllable, wherein the at least one second type of food products includes fresh trim;
• combining the supplied at least one stream of the first type of food products and the supplied at least two separate streams of the at least one second type of food products;
• wherein producing the mix further includes
• determining the lean/fat ratio of the combined first type of food products and at least one second type of food products, and
• determining the weight of the first type of food products and at least one second type of food products, and
• operating in-feeding of the at least one first in-feed channel and the at least two second controllable in-feed channels in real-time so that the mix fulfills the target criteria by utilizing, as real-time operation parameters,
• the determined weight of the first type of food products and the at least one second type of food products,
• the determined lean/fat ratio of the first type of food products, and
• the lean/fat ratio estimates of each the two separate streams of the second type of food products;
• wherein the target criteria include
• a weight ratio criterion of the weight ratio between the first type of food products and the at least one second type of food products in the mix,
• a frozen/fresh ratio criterion of the mix, and
• a lean/fat ratio criterion of the mix.