Freezing system

A cooling system comprising:

• a housing;
• a first treatment zone provided in said housing, said first treatment zone including (a) first injection means for injecting carbon dioxide into said first treatment zone and (b) first circulation means for circulating carbon dioxide in said first treatment zone;
• a second treatment zone provided in said housing, said second treatment zone including (a) second injection means for injecting carbon dioxide into said second treatment zone and (b) second circulation means for circulating carbon dioxide in said second treatment zone;
• and
• a conveyor means for conveying articles to be cooled through said first and second treatment zones,
• said first and second injection means being operable for injecting carbon dioxide toward said articles as said articles are being conveyed by said conveyor means and
• said first and second injection means also being operable such that the carbon dioxide injected by said second injection means will impinge on said articles to a greater degree than will the carbon dioxide injected by said first injection means.

A method of treating articles comprising the steps of:

• (a) conveying said articles through a first treatment zone provided in a tunnel-type cooler;
• (b) as said articles are conveyed through said first treatment zone, injecting carbon dioxide into said first treatment zone toward said articles and circulating carbon dioxide in said first treatment zone;
• (c) following step (a), conveying said articles through a second treatment zone provided in said tunnel-type cooler;
• and
• (d) as said articles are conveyed through said second treatment zone, injecting carbon dioxide into said second treatment zone toward said articles and circulating carbon dioxide in said second treatment zone;
• wherein the carbon dioxide injected into said second treatment zone in accordance with step (d) impinges on said articles to a greater degree than does the carbon dioxide injected into said first treatment zone in accordance with step (b).

A chicken product formed by a method comprising the steps of:

• (a) conveying chicken items through a first treatment zone provided in a tunnel-type cooler;
• (b) as said chicken items are conveyed through said first treatment zone, injecting carbon dioxide into said first treatment zone toward said chicken portions and circulating carbon dioxide in said first treatment zone;
• (c) following step (a), conveying said chicken items through a second treatment zone provided in said tunnel-type cooler;
• and
• (d) as said chicken items are conveyed through said second treatment zone, injecting carbon dioxide into said second treatment zone toward said chicken items and circulating carbon dioxide in said second treatment zone,
• wherein, upon injection, the carbon dioxide injected into said first treatment zone in step (b) forms a carbon dioxide snow blanket which deposits on said chicken items, and
• wherein the carbon dioxide injected into said second treatment zone in accordance with step (d) impinges on said chicken items to a greater degree than does the carbon dioxide injected into said first treatment zone in accordance with step (b).