Apparatuses for cutting food products

An apparatus for cutting food product, the apparatus comprising:

• a circular cutting head having an axis and comprising at least one knife assembly on the circumference of the cutting head;
• a knife extending axially inward relative to the cutting head and having a cutting edge that terminates at a knife tip and having a corrugated shape to produce a food product slice with generally parallel cuts, wherein the food product slice has a periodic shape characterized by peaks and valleys;
• and
• means for securing the knife to the cutting head, the securing means comprising a shoe having a trailing edge preceding the cutting edge of the knife, a knife holder to which the knife is secured, and a surface facing radially inward relative to the cutting head and having a corrugated shape characterized by peaks and valleys;
• wherein the corrugated shape of the surface of the securing means is shaped differently than the corrugated shape of the knife and comprises localized reliefs or recesses at at least one of the peaks, the valleys, and locations midway therebetween to reduce surface contact between unsliced food products and the cutting head, and the corrugated shape of the surface of the securing means is continuous to provide continuous and accurate alignment of individual food products throughout slicing thereof by the knife.