An antilip system for a food patty forming apparatus of the type having a reciprocating mold plate with at least one cavity. The system uses an adjustable escape passage to relieve pressure within a mold plate cavity. The system comprises a breather plate with antilip holes, a passage plate with antilip holes, and an adjusting bar movable between a full open position, a full closed position, and a plurality of intermediate positions. The passage plate also has a passage recycle channel for returning relieved materials to a hopper.