An apparatus for applying a dilute antimicrobial solution to workpieces, such as raw poultry, includes a housing and a sprayer positioned to direct a first volume of dilute antimicrobial solution onto workpieces conveyed through a passage of the housing. A portion of the first volume that does not adhere to the workpieces is collected at a lower portion of the housing and passed to a recycle tank. Solution is transported between the recycle tank and sprayer and includes a supply segment to receive solution from the recycle tank, an application segment to receive the first volume from the supply segment for passage to the sprayer, and a bypass segment, separate from the application segment, to receive a second volume of the solution from the supply segment for return passage to the recycle tank without passage through the sprayer.
