An apparatus, and method of its use, for
slicing food products, particularly elongated
food products, in which the apparatus has a housing enclosing a rotatable
slicing blade, and a sleeve which is mounted in a housing sidewall. The sleeve provides a passageway through which a food product passes and receives a treatment along its outer surface. Other additional and / or alternative features for enhancing or sustaining the cleanliness within the
slicing housing also are provided, which include use of
overpressure within the housing interior, introduction of
HEPA-filtered gas or air therein, delivery of an
antimicrobial agent therein, and / or providing interior housing wall surfaces having a
surface finish (RMS) not exceeding 32 microinches. The slicing apparatus, and its method of operation, provides reliable, accurate continuous slicing capability while requiring less cleaning.