Poultry feet sterilizer

An auger type food product sanitizer, comprising:

• a semicircular, elongated tank having an open top, a closed inlet end, and a closed outlet end;
• an auger mounted for rotation in the tank, the auger comprising a helical blade defining at least one flight forming a helical path with the tank from the inlet end to the outlet end of the tank to move the food product along the helical path from the inlet end to the outlet end of the tank;
• a volume of process water in the tank, the process water introduced into the outlet end of the tank to flow toward the inlet end of the tank;
• a filter assembly receiving the process water from the tank to remove particulates from the process water;
• a heating system heating the filtered process water to at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit for reintroduction into the outlet end of the tank;
• and
• a hood positioned over the open top of the tank to close off the open top of the tank, the hood defining at least one outlet for expelling steam from the tank.