Microbial reduction in a processing stream of a milled product

A process for microbial treatment of a milled product stream, the process comprising:

• providing a flowable stream of a milled product, wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is precondition to have a generally uniform predetermined moisture content throughout the stream;
• transporting the flowable stream of the milled product through a radio frequency (RF) microbial reduction device, wherein the flowable stream of the milled product is heated to a temperature from about 150° F. to about 240° F. while flowing through the RF microbial reduction device;
• and
• after the flowable stream of the milled product is conveyed through the RF microbial reduction device, conveying the flowable stream of the milled product within a closed sanitary conveyance network to cause a temperature reduction of the flowable stream of the milled product.

A process for microbial treatment of a milled grain product stream, the process comprising:

• receiving a flowable stream of a milled grain product;
• transporting the flowable stream of milled grain product to a moisture control device, wherein the moisture control device preconditions the flowable stream of milled grain product to have a generally uniform predetermined moisture content from about 12.5% to about 14.5% as the flowable stream of milled grain product passes through the moisture control device, wherein the generally uniform predetermined moisture content deviates less than about 0.5% throughout the stream, wherein at least a portion of the flowable stream has a microbial activity level;
• after the flowable stream of milled grain product passes through the moisture control device, transporting, by a conveyance network, the flowable stream of milled grain product to a radio frequency (RF) microbial reduction device in-line with the conveyance network, wherein the RF microbial reduction device heats the flowable stream of milled grain product to a temperature from about 180° F. to about 200° F. as the flowable stream of milled grain product is conveyed through the RF microbial reduction device to cause a reduction in the microbial activity level of at least 3.0 log CFU/g and to cause less than 10% denaturation;
• and
• after the flowable stream of milled grain product is conveyed through the RF microbial reduction device, conveying the flowable stream of milled grain product within the conveyance network by chilled forced air to cause a temperature reduction of the flowable stream of milled grain product to about ambient temperature.