A cutter assembly for an extruder includes an elongated extrusion member
having an opened feed end. The opened feed end is attachable in fluid
communication with a first manifold of the extruder. A filling tube
extends through the elongated extrusion member, which is attachable to a
second manifold of the extruder. An extrusion die is formed in the
elongated extrusion member. The extrusion die is shaped to the general
shape of a natural food piece. A cutter member has an opened drivable
end, an elongated cutter wall, and an opened cutter end with a cutting
surface for cutting extrudate to a desired length as the extrudate exits
the die. The cutting surface is shaped to the general shape of the
extrusion die. The cutter member is disposed at least partially over and
reciprocally slidable on the extrusion wall and operably connectable at
the drivable end to a drive device of the extruder for reciprocatably
sliding the cutting surface of the cutter member over and away from the
extrusion die.