Meat Supply Chain Research Articles

Mass spectrometry-based techniques for identification of compounds in milk and meat matrix.

Food including milk and meat is often viewed as the mixture of different components such as fat, protein, carbohydrates, moisture and ash, which are estimated using well-established protocols and techniques. However, with the advent of metabolomics, low-molecular weight substances, also known as metabolites, have been recognized as one of the major factors influencing the production, quality and processing. Therefore, different separation and detection techniques have been developed for the rapid, robust and reproducible separation and identification of compounds for efficient control in milk and meat production and supply chain. Mass-spectrometry based techniques such as GC-MS and LC-MS and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques have been proven successful in the detailed food component analysis owing to their associated benefits. Different metabolites extraction protocols, derivatization, spectra generated, data processing followed by data interpretation are the major sequential steps for these analytical techniques. This chapter deals with not only the detailed discussion of these analytical techniques but also sheds light on various applications of these analytical techniques in milk and meat products.

Determinants of red meat consumption in Qatar: implications for red meat supply chains

The rising income and population in Qatar have led to an increase in the consumption of red meat. However, the supply side of a red meat supply chain is located outside the country with little control over supply chain (SC) transparency. Extant literature suggests that colour, safety, and nutritional value are essential attributes of red meat. However, studies related to their impact on consumer choices and SC is limited. This research explores the parameters that determine household consumption of red meat and uses the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach to prioritise the most-important parameters that influence red meat consumption for Qatari and non-Qatari customers indicating significant differences. Qatari nationals consider nutrition as an important attribute, while non-Qatari consumers consider price as an important attribute in their purchase decision. The results would be helpful for managers of red meat SCs to improve transparency and revisit their strategies for the supply of red meat to Qatar.

Sustainability indicators for assessing the sustainability of the frozen chicken meat supply chain

The growing market for chicken meat, mainly frozen chicken meat and processed food, poses significant challenges to global sustainability. Furthermore, there is still a need to evaluate the sustainability performance of the food supply chain in developing countries. This study analyzes the stages of the chicken meat supply chain, especially the production process of frozen chicken meat in Indonesia. Moreover, this study provides indicators for assessing the sustainability performance of the frozen chicken meat production stage. The study utilized the Delphi technique to identify sustainability indicators. The Delphi technique involved experts from the chicken meat industry, resulting in 14 sustainability indicators. The proposed indicators are relevant to assess the sustainability of the frozen chicken meat production stage based on the perspective of the triple bottom line of sustainability.

The Complexity of the Meat Supply Chain in Cameroon: Multiplicity of Actors, Interactions and Challenges

Background: Beef, because of its high protein content, occupies a privileged place in household consumption in Cameroon. However, the quality of the meat available on the market and the prices charged are far from satisfactory for consumers. There is therefore clearly a problem of physical and financial accessibility to quality beef for the Cameroonian consumer (in a country where 37.5% of the population lives below the poverty line). Methods: To analyze this problem, a qualitative exploratory study based on interviews and on-site observations was conducted. Results: In the article, we are interested in the Supply Chain (SC) of beef in Cameroon, with the aim of understanding its dynamics and highlighting the main obstacles that prevent the actors involved from ensuring consumers, the availability of quality meat at a reasonable price. Through the qualitative exploratory study conducted with the main actors involved (breeders, livestock traders, modern and traditional slaughterhouses, butchers, etc.), we show that the SC of beef in Cameroon is plagued by technical, financial, managerial and cultural constraints that prevent them from satisfying their customers and to take full advantage of their activities. Conclusions: Despite the methodological limits related to sampling and an essentially qualitative approach, the quality and richness of the information collected through in-depth interviews edify the main difficulties and challenges encountered by the actors and lead to managerial implications and prospects of research.

Actions and Strategies for Coronavirus to Ensure Supply Chain Resilience: A Systemic Review

The COVID-19 outbreak adversely impacted agri-food supply chains and caused a severe socio-economic crisis worldwide. Preventive measures taken by several countries have affected production and distribution. Moreover, producers have had to face difficulties related to changes in local and international export markets, a decrease in the labor force due to the spread of the virus, and challenges in harvesting, processing, and shipment of products. However, despite the extraordinary nature of the disruption, supply chains have demonstrated a fair, resilient, and sustainable crisis recovery. Although a large number of papers deal with supply chains and the pandemic’s impact, a review of measures implemented that comprehensively includes resilience dimensions is still lacking. The scope of this paper is to survey available literature in order to understand whether there are classes of actions and strategies undertaken by meat supply chains in managing the pandemic. Documents were reviewed through a protocol based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) review technique. The survey highlights which actions have enabled supply chain resilience by underling virtuous behaviors and lessons learned. These findings support the need for further investigation of supply chain resilience and offer practitioners guidance toward a greater understanding of impacts and implementable strategies.

The Impact of COVID 19 on the Meat Supply Chain in the USA: A Review.

The COVID 19 pandemic resulted in a considerable influence on the world economy. Being a big sector of the economy, the food supply chain struggled. The meat supply chain was most notably affected as every part of the supply chain from farm to shelf was closely inter-related. With the closure of businesses and restaurants the demand for at home food from grocery stores increased. Meat production facilities were impacted when the virus spread to the workers causing facilities to close or line speeds to slow. The combination of these two issues, in turn, led to there being less meat on the shelves. With less meat animals being harvested, there was less demand for livestock leading to farmers having an excess in slaughter ready animals. The decreased demand for livestock led to economic issues as money was lost in multiple sections of the supply chain. Aside from the economy and supply chain issues, other issues include concerns over the safety of meat products due to decreased safety protocols to increase line speed. Additionally, concerns of animal welfare with the excess of animals being culled were raised due to decreased capacity in processing facilities. While this review paper mainly focuses on characterizing the impact of COVID 19 on the meat supply chain in the USA, the compiled information should be able to provide practical insights to the meat/food industry across the globe to develop potential mitigating strategies against the COVID 19 and/or any similar pandemic incidences in the future.

Hepatitis E virus in pigs and the environment: An updated review of public health concerns.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important public health problem and is responsible for both acute and chronic viral hepatitis. Public health implications of HEV are derived from its transmission route, either water-borne or food-borne, and its zoonotic potential. Not only in developing countries, but HEV cases are also found in a high number in developed countries. The spread of HEV to the environment might pollute surface waters, which could act as the source of infection for both humans and animals. Identification of the virus in animal products suggests the circulation of HEV within water and food chains. High seroprevalence and circulation of HEV in livestock, in particular pigs, as well as in environmental samples warrants further investigation into pig markets. HEV virulence in different environments and meat supply chains could shed light on the possible sources of infection in humans and the degree of occupational risk. The purpose of this review is to discuss HEV infections with an emphasis on livestock- and environment-related risk factors, and food-borne, water-borne, and zoonotic transmissions.

Responding to Regulatory Barriers to “Ethical Meat”: Are On-Farm Slaughter Exemptions the Solution?

AbstractMandatory meat inspection requirements have long been a source of frustration for advocates of ethical meat. Seen as overly restrictive and ill-adapted to the realities on the ground, some argue that farm-to-consumer sales should be subject to less stringent inspection requirements than conventional meat supply chains. Recently, a series of legislative reforms authorizing on-farm slaughter suggests that policy makers are listening. But do on-farm slaughter exemptions really facilitate ethical meat sales? To answer this question, this paper explores meat inspection systems in Quebec, Ontario, and Vermont. Drawing on data obtained from semi-structured interviews with producers, processors, and policy advisors, it argues that inspection requirements may not be the barriers they are presumed to be. Instead, producers and processors face other more significant financial and structural challenges. These need to be addressed if ethical meat is to be a viable alternative to the dominant model of animal agriculture.

Ultra-Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica Based on the CRISPR/Cas12a Nucleic Acid Identification Platform.

Yersinia enterocolitica is a dangerous foodborne human pathogen that mainly causes gastroenteritis. Ideal methods for the detection of pathogens in food should be rapid, sensitive, specific, and cost effective. To this end, novel in vitro nucleic acid identification methods based on clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) endonuclease have received increasing attention. In this study, a simple, visual, and ultrasensitive method, based on CRISPR/Cas12a with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), was developed for the detection of Y. enterocolitica. The results show that a specific attachment invasion locus gene (ail) can be rapidly detected using a CRISPR/Cas12a-RPA-based system. Application of the method to raw pork, which was artificially infected with Y. enterocolitica, achieved an estimated detection limit of 1.7 CFU/mL in less than 45 min, and this was 100 times lower compared with qPCR. The results indicated that the CRISPR/Cas12a-RPA system has good potential for monitoring pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in the chilled meat supply chain.

Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG anti-SARS-COV-2 and associated factors among agricultural workers in Colombia

BackgroundThe population of South America has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this region, during the year 2020, high seroprevalence percentages were reported, which have been associated with the socioeconomic characteristics of the population, mainly in urban areas. However, a relative lack of information on the dynamics of the pandemic in rural areas of these countries, where the population is more vulnerable, is still present. This study determined antibody prevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in urban and rural food producing workers in Colombia. MethodsA total of 1242 workers, urban and rural, linked to poultry, dairy, and meat production and supply chains, were analyzed through a sociodemographic survey and two serological tests against S and N proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Results78.7% were male. 50.9% of the participants were rural inhabitants, with an average age of 40.9 years old. 39.2% had IgM and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 S protein and 31.3% against N protein for the same virus; 83.6% had not been tested with an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 and 75.7% did not report symptoms related to the disease. The associated risk factors were low education, OR: 1.46, greater number of cohabitants, OR: 1.36, and contact with people infected with COVID-19, OR: 2.03. ConclusionsThe seroprevalences found suggest an important interconnectivity between rural and urban areas, where asymptomatic subjects and sociodemographic factors facilitate the virus' spread in the population.

Fuzzy Learning Vector Quantization for Classification of Mixed Meat Image Based on Character of Color and Texture

Beef consumption is quite high and expensive in the world. In Indonesia, beef prices are relatively expensive because the meat supply chain from farmers to the market is quite long. The high demand for beef and the difficulty of obtaining meat are factors in the high price of meat. This makes some meat traders cheat by mixing beef and pork (oplosan). Mixing beef and pork is detrimental to beef consumers, especially those who are Muslim. In this paper, we proposed a new strategy for identifying beef, pig, and mixed meat utilizing Fuzzy learning vector quantization (FLVQ) Based on the color and texture aspects of the meat. The HSV (Hue saturation value) approach is used for color features, whereas the GLCM (Gray level co-occurrence matrix) method is used for texture features. This study makes use of primary data collected from the Pasar Bawah Tourism and Cipuan Market in Pekanbaru, Riau Province. The data set consists of 600 photos, 200 each of beef, pork, and mixed. Based on the test scenario, the coefficient of fuzzyness and learning rate affect the accuracy of meat image identification. The proposed strategy has succeeded in classifying pork, beef and mixed meat with the best percentage of accuracy results in theclasses of beef and pork, beef and mixed, pork and mixed meat, respectively, at 100%, 97.5%, and 95%. This demonstrates that the proposed strategy has succeeded in classifying the image of pork, beef, and mixed.

Theoretical principles and practical approaches to the relations regulation between the participants of the meat supply chain

The article is studies theoretical principles and practical approaches to the settlement of relations between the food chain participants in the meat market. The issues of formation and transformation of food chains are currently one of the most discussed and studied by foreign and domestic scientists. It is substantiated that the share of direct producers of beef and pork has a negative dynamics of reduction and fluctuates within 30-40% in the fnal price formation. The share of producers in the retail price of poultry meat is much higher (47.1-59.5%) due to vertical integration and a closed production cycle. It is proved that the inconsistency of economic relations between the participants of the "production - processing - trade - the meat market consumer" chain affects both the supply of meat processing plants with raw materials and the formation of prices that would satisfy all the participants and results in unsatisfactory price situation for meat. Generalization of theoretical, methodological and practical principles of the "production-processing-trade-consumption" food chain, analysis and evaluation of the role of each of the links and studying the international experience gives grounds for identifying a number of areas in regulation of the relations and predetermine the increase the producer share in the chain through concluding fair and effective agreements between meat market participants; creation of agricultural service cooperatives and other associations of producers; establishment and running a network of wholesale markets for agricultural products; support for the creation and development of short supply chains; development of innovative logistics approaches and methods based on modern digital technologies. It is established that the relations between the participants of the chain "production-processing-trademeat market consumption" should be based on the principles of trust, justice, mutual respect, corporate social responsibility. It is substantiated that changes in consumer demands for food, including meat, increased competition, changes in government regulation, technological advances, increased emphasis on efficiency and sustainability, food safety affect changes in business and competitiveness strategies, which ultimately cause transformations in food chains in the form of new and innovative logistics approaches and methods. Key words: meat market, food chain, price, relationship settlement, innovative logistics approaches.

Quality of raw meat

Numerous ante mortem and post mortem factors affect on the quality of raw meat. Through previous scientific research, we have learned about the type of factors and their effects on the overall quality of raw meat. Participants in the meat supply chain, especially livestock and slaughterhouses, work together to provide the raw meat for the needs of the population and the meat processing industry. The requirements of consumers and processors of raw meat are clear. Raw meat producers should provide safe meat at an affordable price. During production, they need to apply methods that respect the principles of animal welfare and have a minimal impact on the environment. Precise definition of raw meat quality characteristics, application of quality assurance and food safety management systems and determination of quality parameters during raw meat assessment (in carcasses, halves, pieces of meat) contribute to strengthening supply chain links, increasing trust of stakeholders (for example, livestock farmers, slaughterhouses, meat processing industry, wholesalers and retailers) and consumers of raw meat.

Traceability optimization in the meat supply chain with economic and environmental considerations

This work aims to develop a decision support tool for optimizing the traceability in a supply chain (SC) of meat products considering economic and environmental concerns. The problem is formulated as a multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming (MOMILP) model that seeks to minimize three objectives simultaneously: total batch dispersion, operating costs, and carbon emissions of the network. This model is solved by applying a Goal Programming approach that minimizes the undesirable deviations from the goals. The advantages of the posed formulation are illustrated through its application to a case study in which trade-offs exist among the performance indicators of the meat SC. Results show the formulation constitutes a valuable instrument for selecting the involved actors in the SC, planning the production and distribution of produced batches, and identifying the batches of animals that form each finished product batch delivered to every retailer, thus allowing their traceability.

The role of diffusion of innovation theory towards the adoption of halal meat supply chain

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the factors that drive the exporter’s influence toward halal meat supply chain adoption by encompassing the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory in the context of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachUsing DOI as an underpinning theory, this study evaluates halal supply chain adoption by collecting data from the members of associations from Pakistan. A total of 258 useable responses were received, and PLS-SEM was adopted using SmartPLS.FindingsThe exporter’s adoption of the halal supply chain is determined not only by perceived relative advantage and perceived compatibility but also by perceived complexity, religious beliefs and awareness.Research limitations/implicationsThough this study has practical and managerial implications, it has few limitations. Further studies need to be conducted in other contexts as well with a larger population.Originality/valueThere are limited studies that have tested DOI theory in the context of the halal meat supply chain in Pakistan. Therefore, the author extends the diffusion theory of innovation in the current work. Further, this paper will be a helpful reference guide for academicians, practitioners and researchers.

The effects of restrictive measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the extensive farming system of small ruminants.

Vigorous restrictive measures were imposed worldwide to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the effects those measures had on livestock production systems have not yet been sufficiently clarified. The literature has focused mainly on the impact of COVID-19 on the intensive livestock production system, especially the meat and milk supply chain, as well as the welfare of animals, highlighting its fragility, but failed to address the way the restrictive measures affected the extensive farming system of small ruminants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the restrictive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the parameters of sheep and goat extensive farming systems. We used a survey and personal interviews to record the breeders' profile and the structural characteristics of the holdings, and we showed that the restrictive measures had no effect on the parameters of small ruminant extensive farming systems, except for the daily work routine of breeders, which was negatively affected in holdings with a high number of sheep. We expect this study to be helpful to policy makers regarding formulating interventions for the resilience and the stability of the sheep and goat extensive farming system in future situations of emergency.

Supply chain integration and halal frozen meat product returns

PurposeHalal frozen meat product returns are major challenges in the halal frozen meat supply chain because of the sheer volume and processing costs of returns. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of integrated halal supply chain (IHSC) strategies on effective product returns with halal logistics (HL) as an interceding variable.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used the cross-sectional technique to select samples from a population that revolved around the halal food industry in Malaysia. Data collected from halal service providers who handle halal frozen meat product returns provided insightful findings.FindingsThe findings of this paper indicate that the IHSC dimensions, such as interactive fairness, procedural fairness and service coverage, are positively associated with effective product returns. It also shows that HL plays a mediating role between the IHSC and effective product returns.Practical implicationsFrom a practical viewpoint, this paper suggests that an effective return service system can be designed to emphasise the category of interactive and flexible justice services through refunds or product replacement, depending on customer's demand.Originality/valueThe result of this paper provides insights into how logistics service provider managers effectively and efficiently handle the halal supply chain network when involving product returns.

Peroxyacetic acid and acidified sodium chlorite reduce microbial contamination on whole chicken carcasses obtained from two processing points

Chicken meat is frequently contaminated with zoonotic bacterial pathogens such as Campylobacter spp and Salmonella spp. These two bacterial genera are commonly linked with cases of human gastrointestinal disease, thus mitigating their presence in the poultry meat supply chain is paramount. Here, the efficacy of two sanitizers, peroxyacetic acid (PAA) and acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), was tested using whole chicken carcasses obtained either prior to the inside/outside wash or the post-immersion spin chill steps of processing. Two concentrations of PAA (100 and 200 ppm) and ASC (450 and 900 ppm) were tested, and both significantly reduced total viable bacteria and Campylobacter counts per carcass. Both sanitizers also reduced the prevalence of Salmonella on whole carcasses from both processing steps. Log reduction of both the total viable and Campylobacter counts were, however, temperature and processing stage dependent. The efficacy of both PAA and ASC were also compared with sodium hypochlorite. No significant difference between the three sanitizers was observed for the reduction of TVC, Campylobacter or Salmonella using carcasses obtained at either processing step. These results demonstrate that PAA or ASC could be implemented as a replacement or used in addition to sodium hypochlorite to effectively reduce bacteria on whole carcasses.

Perception versus reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. meat markets

Disruptions to meat markets during the COVID-19 pandemic spurred mass media attention. While media deeming the U.S. food system ‘broken’ garnered a great deal of attention, the actual production and meat availability data does not support this conclusion. The U.S. meat supply chain, while certainly strained and with measurable consequence during periods of adjustment, proved ultimately resilient and rebounded quickly. Increased attention on meat supply chains may drive continued efforts to improve resiliency, but analyses of online media and U.S. production and cold storage data do not support a narrative that the system ‘broke’, but was perhaps ‘strained’ and ‘responded efficiently’. Findings indicate that public sentiment about U.S. meat supply overall was not as dominated by pandemic-era concerns as may be hypothesized.

Mitigating spread of contamination in meat supply chain management using deep learning

Industry 4.0 recommends a paradigm shift from traditional manufacturing to automated industrial practices, especially in different parts of supply chain management. Besides, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 underscores the urgency of ensuring a sustainable supply chain with novel technologies including Artificial Intelligence to decrease food loss, which has the potential of mitigating food waste. These new technologies can increase productivity, especially in perishable products of the supply chain by reducing expenses, increasing the accuracy of operations, accelerating processes, and decreasing the carbon footprint of food. Artificial intelligence techniques such as deep learning can be utilized in various sections of meat supply chain management––where highly perishable products like spoiled meat need to be separated from wholesome ones to prevent cross-contamination with food-borne pathogens. Therefore, to automate this process and prevent meat spoilage and/or improve meat shelf life which is crucial to consumer meat preferences and sustainable consumption, a classification model was trained by the DCNN and PSO algorithms with 100% accuracy, which discerns wholesome meat from spoiled ones.