Apparatus and method for curled extrudate

A method for producing a substantially spiral shaped food product comprising:

• moving a stream of food mass through at least one aperture centered on an aperture axis, the stream of food mass including a first food mass surrounded by a second food mass, the first and second food masses centered on the aperture axis;
• moving the stream of food mass out of at least one aperture exit;
• moving the stream of food mass through a plate opening disposed over the at least one aperture exit, the plate opening defined by an inner plate periphery of a plate portion of at least one shaping tool;
• rotating at least one slicing blade of the at least one shaping tool about the aperture axis to slice the stream of food mass along the aperture axis into a plurality of sliced food mass portions, the at least one slicing blade fixedly connected to the plate portion on opposing sides of the inner plate periphery and also disposed over at least a portion of the at least one aperture exit and extending axially along the aperture axis;
• and
• engaging the at least one shaping tool to a coupling arrangement to rotate the at least one slicing blade and spin the plurality of sliced food mass portions into a spiral shaped stream of food mass, wherein the at least one slicing blade simultaneously slices and spins the stream of food mass to create the spiral shaped stream of food mass.