An apparatus for pasteurizing a dry food product comprises an impingement
chamber, a conveyor for conveying the dry food product through the
impingement chamber; a heater and water supply assembly for generating
heated, moist air, and a fan for circulating the heated, moist air
through the impingement chamber and onto the dry food product. In
operation, the moisture in the heated, moist air condenses on the surface
of the dry food product and produces a heat of condensation which heats
the surface of the dry food product. Moreover, this heat of condensation
is sufficient to kill a percentage of any pathogenic microorganisms which
may be present on the surface of the dry food product.