Meat Safety Research Articles

Antibiotics and lectin C for diarrhea control intervention in piglets and influences.

The study was conducted on 60L of suckling piglets out of 775 piglets, of which 227 piglets had diarrhea litres of piglets, and out of 775 piglets, 227 piglets had diarrhoea syndrome. There were 3 interventions in separate trials as follows: 1 and 2 involved antibiotic use (Enrofloxacin and Gentamicin); Trial 3 used the supplement Lectin C (LvCLT3 and LvCLT4) for a treatment period of 3-7 days. Intervention results on 227 piglets with diarrhea showed the highest cure rate when supplemented with Lectin C, with no mortality rate, longer treatment time, and no reinfection rate. While the two antibiotic trials still had lower cure rates, mortality and reinfection rates were higher. After 05 days of recovery, piglets were tested for MCV, MCH, and MCHC, showing an apparent decrease in the group supplemented with Lectin C, while the two groups using antibiotics still had high rates, with a confidence level of P < 0.05; 0.01 and 0.001. Antibiotics treat piglets in their early stages, so there is a risk of immunodeficiency and low infection response. It is necessary to supplement substances derived from dietary supplements. Supplementing Lectin C increases resistance, enhances immune response, improves the effectiveness of treating diarrhoea syndrome in piglets, and ensures safe meat quality in the future. Lectin C supplementation will improve piglet health and breed quality efficiency. This heralds a promising future for the pig industry with improved meat quality and reduced environmental impact.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of meat hygiene among slaughterhouse workers and retail meat sellers in Bangladesh

Inadequate handling of raw meat leading to cross-contamination, often stemming from insufficient knowledge and practices among meat handlers, poses a significant global health challenge, especially in developing nations where food-borne diseases are prevalent. Effective understanding and implementation of preventive measures by meat handlers are essential in reducing the incidence of food-borne illnesses and the contamination of raw meat. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding meat hygiene among retail meat sellers and slaughterhouse personnel in the Bogura district of Bangladesh. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted, encompassing 408 meat handlers selected through a multistage sampling approach. Data on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices of meat hygiene were collected using a structured questionnaire, and then analyzed. The participants had a mean age of 34.63 years with a standard deviation of 13.44. The majority of participants demonstrated good knowledge (70.70 %) and positive attitudes (53 %). However, no significant differences were observed in good (49.80 %) or poor (50.20 %) practices regarding meat hygiene. Interestingly, significant associations were observed between knowledge and age (p = 0.022), location (p < 0.001), and borderline significance in training (p = 0.051). Similarly, a statistically significant association was found between the practice of meat hygiene and age (p = 0.041), level of education (p = 0.008), and training (p = 0.004). Furthermore, a significant association existed between knowledge and practices of meat hygiene (p < 0.001). Older meat handlers with training exhibited better knowledge and practices of meat hygiene compared to their younger counterparts. This study underscores the importance of public health education, policy development, and regular training and retraining programs for meat handlers to ensure safe meat handling practices and overall hygiene.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hygiene among meat handlers in Vijayapura city, North Karnataka

Background: Food-borne diseases are a significant health concern globally, particularly in meat-related cases, due to unhygienic handling and inadequate sanitation. Challenges such as inadequate food safety regulations, weak regulatory frameworks and insufficient awareness among food handlers contribute in exacerbating the issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of hygiene among slaughterhouse workers in Vijayapura, north Karnataka. Objective was to evaluate the sociodemographic characteristics of meat handlers and their correlation with knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to meat hygiene in in Vijayapura, north Karnataka. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in Vijayapura city from July to September 2023, involving meat handlers from various shops. 79 participants were selected from 200 shops using a lottery method, anticipating a 71% knowledge level of meat hygiene. Informed consent was taken, and data collection was done using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Among the 79 participants, 86.1% were male and 13.9% female, with 64.5% having over five years of experience. Most (96.2%) had good knowledge of meat hygiene, while 3.8% had poor knowledge. Significant associations were found between gender (p=0.00), religion (p=0.00), educational status (p=0.013), and meat hygiene practices. Conclusions: The study reveals satisfactory knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding meat hygiene among meat handlers in Vijayapura. It is highly advisable to emphasize public health education, develop policies, and implement consistent training programs for meat handlers focused on safe meat handling practices, as well as maintaining high standards of personal and general hygiene.

Antibiotics in broilers chicken production: a review of impacts, challenges and potential alternatives

Globally, the use of antibiotic in animal industry was well known in the 20th century. Antibiotics usage as therapeutic and subtherapeutic means of improving growth and feed efficiency in livestock was well documented in literature. However, continuous use of antibiotics in food animals for increased growth and disease prevention has resulted in the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria in animals. This has led to disease treatment failure in the affected animals. The problem of transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria to human through food chain and contamination of environment is another challenge of antibiotic usage in poultry production. Hence, the ban was placed on antibiotic usage in animal production. The restriction to the use of animal growth promoting antibiotic has gained high compliance in the developed countries. However, in the third world countries, this is still a battle that is on-going. To achieve the 2023 Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance goal, a lot is still left to be done. This review synthesized information on implications of antibiotics use on broiler chickens’ production cost efficiency and profitability; impact of antibiotics mode of action, diseases prevention and treatments of infection in broiler chickens’ production; challenges of antibiotics residual effect on meat quality and safety and alternatives to synthetic antibiotic for broiler chickens’ production.

Shellfish Meat Safety on the Montenegro Coast

Exploitation of natural resources of the marine ecosystem to feed a growing human population has led to the possibility of their application in the future. In order to solve this problem, mariculture develops and the create adequate conditions for the breeding of marine organisms which are using in human nutrition and one of them are shellfish known as nutritionally valuable food. Microflora of marine organisms, and therefore shells largely depends on environmental factors such as time of the year, temperature of the sea water etc. This work was focused on growing shells on the Montenegrin coast, and a special emphasis was put on placing health-safe shells on the Montenegrin food market. In addition to meat shells, physical and chemical parameters of sea water were studied: water temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, pH, transparency, nitrate concentration, Examination of these parameters is related to the period of one year. The own results of the microbiological examination of the samples of shellfish sampled in six production zones in April according to presence of Escherichia coli in the value of ˂18 MPN – (Most Probably Number) per 100 g of meat and intra-shell liquid, which means that shellfish in general at the Montenegrin coasts satisfy and meet microbiological criteria in view of the presence of Escherichia coli. When its own results compare with the results of the SVL (Specialist Veterinary Laboratory) for the same time in each zone, it can be determined that the results match, thus confirming the accuracy of the test results shown.

Advancing meat safety diverse approaches for bovine tuberculosis detection and control in abattoirs

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) still represents a significant public health concern and economic issue for livestock breeders in Egypt. This research investigates the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle slaughtered at the central abattoir in Aswan, Egypt, in 2023. A total of 720 cattle were checked antemortem and postmortem at the abattoir. The suspected lesions were analyzed with acid-fast staining, microscopy, histology, ELISA, and RT-PCR. Based on gross tubercle lesions, the overall occurrence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle slaughtered at Aswan abattoirs was 3.2% (23/720), with thoracic lymph nodes and lungs exhibiting the highest frequency of tubercle lesions compared to other organs. According to employed diagnostic tests, the prevalence of tuberculosis was estimated as 68.6, 61, 56.5, and 78.3% for microscopy, histopathology, ELISA, and RT-PCR, respectively. These findings highlight the incidence of bovine tuberculosis and the dissemination of tuberculous lesions among cattle slaughtered at Aswan abattoirs. Furthermore, such prevalence emphasizes the urgent need for a practical disease control approach and an organized surveillance system in the cattle population. One Health strategy is strongly advised to mitigate the zoonotic transmission to people and economic losses in the cattle industry.

Antibiotic resistant bacteria in goat meat and hygienic practices among retail stores in Nashville, Tennessee

This study explores into the levels of coliform contamination, prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the hygienic practices in goat meat retail stores. Goat meat from 10 retail stores was analyzed for E. coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus using serological and PCR methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data on hygienic practices were collected through a structured observational questionnaire. Pearson’s correlation analysis was also employed to establish the relationship between hygienic practices and coliform loads. The average coliform loads on goat meat ranged between 0.88–5.04 log10 cfu/g. Our results revealed that 52% of examined goat meat was deemed unacceptable (&amp;gt;3.30 log10 CFU/g). The overall level of good meat handling practices among meat handlers in our study was 45.75%. Further, the study establishes a significant correlation between the level of food safety practices and coliform load. Hence, stores with higher hygienic practice scores exhibited lower coliform loads. The prevalence of S. aureus (44%) in goat meat was significantly higher (p &amp;lt; 0.05) as compared to E. coli (29%), and Salmonella spp. (20%). E. coli isolates displayed the highest resistance to penicillin (31.2%), Salmonella spp. to oxytetracycline (13.9%), and S. aureus to ampicillin (29.0%). Resistance was observed across selected antibiotic classes, particularly in beta-lactams and tetracyclines, with penicillin (78.5%) and oxytetracycline (64.5%) exhibiting notable resistance. Cephalosporin resistance was noted, with 48.4 and 33.3% of isolates showing resistance to cephalothin and cefpodoxime, respectively. Bacterial isolates also demonstrated resistance to phenicol antibiotics, including chloramphenicol (9.7%) and florfenicol (16.1%), respectively. Approximately 44.1% of bacterial isolates displayed multidrug resistance and MAR index ranged from 0.25 to 0.75. The study’s findings reveal heightened levels of coliform contamination, the presence of pathogenic and multidrug-resistant bacteria in goat meat, and suboptimal meat handling practices in retail stores. The significance of improving food safety practices in retail settings is emphasized to ensure the safety of goat meat, a matter of increasing importance due to its growing demand globally.

Improving ready-to-eat meat safety: Evaluating the bacterial-inactivation efficacy of microplasma-based far-UVC light treatment of food-contact surfaces and deli turkey breast

The safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) deli meats, especially those sliced in retail establishments, may be improved by light-based surface decontamination. Conventional 254 nm ultraviolet-C (UVC) systems have strong germicidal effects but pose human-health hazards that make them unsuitable for retail use. This study therefore explores the efficacy of microplasma-based 222 nm far-UVC lamps as a safer alternative for decontaminating liquid buffer, two common food-contact surfaces (polyethylene terephthalate and stainless steel), and RTE turkey breast. In all three non-meat cases, the system achieved approximately 5-log reductions of both Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Typhimurium. The system also caused a 1.3-log reduction of L. monocytogenes and a 1-log reduction of S. Typhimurium on turkey breast at the highest tested dose of 786.3 mJ/cm2. Color is a key quality indicator for RTE meat consumers, and treatment caused no significant change in L*, a*, or b* color values (p > 0.05) until doses reached 224.7 mJ/cm2. However, higher doses could lead to statistically significant color changes. Given that far-UVC light has been deemed human-safe by other studies, the proposed system has considerable potential to improve RTE food-related safety in retail establishments, even when consumers and workers are present.

The Impact of an Extended Bleed-to-evisceration Interval on the Microbiological Quality of On-farm Slaughtered Cattle Carcasses

The uncertainties surrounding the microbiological risks of an extended exsanguination-to-evisceration interval have limited the implementation of on-farm slaughter in Europe. On-farm slaughter is increasingly advocated by farmers, consumers, and policymakers as a humane alternative to traditional slaughterhouse operations. However, concerns about hygiene and food safety, particularly bacterial contamination, have led to stringent time limits imposed by Member States on the interval between bleeding and evisceration. Microbiological standards for bovine carcasses in the European Union are governed by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, which sets process hygiene criteria for aerobic colony count and Enterobacteriaceae. To investigate whether extending the bleed-to-evisceration interval compromises meat safety, five Holstein dairy cattle were slaughtered on-farm, with samples collected from the internal paralumbar area in contact with the intestines for up to four hours postmortem. The samples were analyzed for Enterobacteriaceae, aerobic colony count, and Escherichia coli. None of the samples exceeded the established thresholds of 1.5 and 3.5 log CFU/cm2 for aerobic colony count and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively, as defined by Belgian health authorities for the nondestructive sampling method. These preliminary findings suggest that on-farm slaughter with evisceration occurring up to four hours postmortem does not pose increased microbiological risks to human health. However, further research is necessary, particularly under warmer environmental conditions and with a larger sample size, to confirm these results and to explore additional factors that may influence bacterial translocation and digestive tract wall integrity.

Токсичные и биогенные элементы в органах и тканях белой куропатки (Lagopus lagopus L., 1758) на севере Красноярского края (обзор)

Studying the concentration of biogenic and toxic microelements in the body tissues of wild animals is relevant for organizing regional environmental monitoring, assessing the state of populations and ensuring the safety of meat and wild products. The studies were carried out to determine the content of biogenic and toxic elements in the organs and tissues of the willow ptarmigan in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia, where different levels of technogenic pollution are expected. The iron, copper, nickel, lead, and cadmium content in the pectoral muscles and liver of willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus L.) (n=162), bagged during five hunting seasons in 2005–2019, were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. The levels of lead, cadmium and iron in the tissues were significantly higher in contaminated areas, while the copper levels did not differ. Element concentrations in liver and skeletal muscle in impact areas were highly correlated with each other. This may be related to common sources of pollutant emissions. Sex differences in micronutrient content can be determined by spatial differentiation of the sexes during migration, seasonal feeding patterns, and the specific birds’ metabolism in reproductive period. Cadmium and lead content in liver and muscle tissue samples from impact areas exceeded current food hygiene standards, which may pose a threat to consumers. Probably, high levels of lead and cadmium reflect the increased content of metals in food items primarily willow sprouts and buds, which are the most important winter food for ptarmigan.

Development and application of a streamlined DNase-assisted DNA extraction method for the quantitative PCR of live bacterial counts in heated game meat

ABSTRACT In response to the growing need for effective food safety protocols in game meat, this study introduces a novel DNase I treatment and heat kill method to detect live bacterial pathogens in meat, particularly in game. Focusing on male wild boar shoulder meat, we tested the method’s efficacy under a stringent condition of 59°C for 60 minutes. The results demonstrate that DNase I remains active, enabling the accurate differentiation between viable and non-viable bacterial cells for precise pathogen quantification. This method’s simplicity and potential for high-throughput processing suggest it could be an invaluable tool for enhancing the safety and quality of game meat. These findings offer a practical approach to game meat safety, and can permit large-scale food safety testing across various meat types.

Socio-Economic Status of Buffalo Farmers and Management Practices of Buffaloes at Shahjadpur Milk Pocket Area in Bangladesh

Buffalo is the most neglected species of large ruminant, despite contributing to safe and sustainable milk and meat production in Bangladesh. A survey was conducted at five unions of Shahjadpur upazilla under Sirajganj district which is called the milk pocket area in Bangladesh. The objective of the survey was to find out the socio-economic condition of buffalo farmers in these areas. Prior to conducting the survey work from February to June 2024, a questionnaire was designed and pre-tested. SPSS software was used to statistically analyse the collected data. The results revealed that the majority (84%) of buffalo farmers were male and mostly (72%) practised by middle-aged (30-45 years). The education level of farmers had no schooling (12%), primary (50%), secondary (22%), higher secondary (16%) and graduation (0%), respectively. In the survey area, a majority (76%) of the farmers reared young male (1.5 to 2 years) buffalo for fattening. Additionally, 72% of farmers raised buffaloes with intensive systems and the remaining 28% with semi-intensive. The involvement of respondents in farming, business and others were 84, 8% and 8% respectively. Most (60%) of the farmers dewormed their buffalo regularly but only 28% practised regular vaccination. The main factors limiting buffalo production in the study locations were the high price of concentrate feed (88%), lack of pond for wallowing (70%), lack of improved dairy buffalo breeds (60%), lack of green fodder (30%), unavailability of bank loan (18%) and training facility (24%). The net income from fattening one buffalo per half yearly was BDT 26713. It indicates that rearing buffaloes for fattening purposes in the selected areas was profitable.

Environmental contamination of arsenic: pathway analysis through water-soil-feed-livestock in Nadia District (India) and potential human health risk.

This study investigated arsenic (As) concentrations in diverse environmental components and their potential impact on the health risks faced by residents of the arsenic (As)-contaminated Nadia district in West Bengal, India. A random selection of 182 cattle and 255 goats from 40 livestock farmers in the district revealed that both animals and humans were naturally exposed to elevated arsenic levels through contaminated drinking water, foods, grasses, concentrate feeds, various fodder tree leaves, and other food/feed resources. The mean As concentration in roughages (483.18µg/kg DM) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in tree leaves (391.53µg/kg DM), and concentrate feed/ingredients (186.66µg/kg DM). Pond water exhibited higher arsenic levels (106.11µg/L) compared to shallow tube well water (47.96µg/L) and deep tube well water/tap water (10.64µg/L and 10.04µg/L, respectively). The mean arsenic concentration in soils DM of fodder fields, crop fields, and grassland was 10.25, 10.58, and 10.20mg/kg, respectively. It was observed that protein-rich feeds had lower levels of arsenic accumulation (p < 0.048), while fiber-rich feeds containing more cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin had higher arsenic levels (p < 0.017). Goats consumed 73.46% more arsenic per kg body weight compared to dairy cows. Although chronic and sub-chronic arsenic exposure in the district did not typically manifest symptoms or visible signs in ruminant animals, concentrations in the hair and feces of both cattle and goats exceeded normal values. Cattle feces had significantly higher arsenic (410.43µg/kg DM) levels (p < 0.001) than goat feces (227.00µg/kg DM), and arsenic concentration in cattle hair (1917.74µg/kg DM) was also significantly greater (p < 0.001) than goat hair (1435.74µg/kg DM). Arsenic levels in milk samples from both species were below 10µg/kg. Liver (356.02µg/kg DM) and kidney (317.22µg/kg DM) contained significantly higher (p < 0.001) levels of arsenic compared to muscle (204.23µg/kg DM), and bone (161.98µg/kg DM) in local meat-type adult male goats. The skin accumulated the highest amount of arsenic (576.24µg/kg DM) among the non-edible parts of the goat carcass. The cumulative cancer risk value for adults was 4.96 × 10-3, exceeding the threshold value (1 × 10-6). This suggests a significant risk of cancer development for the population in arsenic-affected areas. Non-cancer risks (hazard indexes) were estimated at 11.01 for adults. Our observations revealed that the highest bioaccumulation of arsenic occurred in the hair of cows, and goats in the examined localities. The biotransformation factor (BTF) for hair was much higher compared to other excreted samples from both species. The calculated BTF followed the order: hair > feces > milk for cows and goats. Livestock farmers in Nadia district are advised to carefully select feed resources, prioritizing those high in crude protein and low in neutral detergent fiber, and they should provide drinking water from deep aquifers to ensure the safety of milk and meat for human consumption.

Methods for Screening and Isolating Extremely Heat-Resistant Escherichia coli from Meat Sources.

Meat animals harbor diverse E. coli populations in their digestive tracts and can serve as sources of pathogenic E. coli. The consumption of meat and produce contaminated with virulent E. coli from animal sources is associated with human illnesses and outbreaks. Heat treatment is an antimicrobial intervention that is commonly used during meat processing to ensure effective reductions in microbial load. Extreme heat resistance (XHR) has been reported among meat-borne E. coli and is mainly attributed to an ~15-19 kb genetic element known as the transmissible locus of stress tolerance (tLST). XHR E. coli can resist treatments used during meat processing and cooking. Therefore, the detection of heat-resistant E. coli is important for devising effective control measures to prevent meat spoilage and ensure meat safety. Here, we present methods used to (1) screen for tLST genes by multiplex PCR and (2) screen and isolate XHR E. coli from meat sources. The mode of heat exposure affects the outcome of XHR testing. Hence, the protocols were optimized to achieve maximum agreement between the tLST genotype and the XHR phenotype.

Анализ эффективности применения биоактивного покрытия для обеспечения качества и биобезопасности мяса птицы при хранении

Abstract. Poultry meat is the most common type of raw meat, in demand among consumers, but at the same time a perishable product. The quality and safety of poultry meat during storage can be ensured by using bioactive film coatings. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the receipt of new scientific data on the effect of a bioactive alginate coating with protein hydrolysate on the performance of broiler chicken breast fillet during storage. The purpose of the research is to establish the effectiveness of a bioactive coating based on sodium alginate with protein hydrolysate as an active component during the storage of poultry meat. Research methods. For samples of broiler chicken breast fillet coated with bioactive alginate films and for a control sample without coating, color characteristics, pH, mass fraction of moisture and weight loss during storage, as well as microbiological indicators (total microbial count, and coliforms) were determined. The studies were carried out using standard generally accepted methods. Results. It has been established that coated meat better retains its appearance and color, the moisture content remains at a fairly high level compared to the initial value, and shrinkage is reduced. It was also found that the alginate coating provides microbiological stability of breast fillet for a longer time compared to the control sample: after 7 days of storage, the total microbial number in the control sample was 1.4 106 CFU/g, which is higher than the permissible level according to the requirements of EAEU TR 051/ 2021, while in alginate coating samples this indicator remained within acceptable values. Thus, film coatings based on sodium alginate with the addition of protein hydrolysate as an active component have the potential to ensure the safety and biosafety of poultry meat during storage.

Sustainable gelatin-kappa carrageenan active packaging with Mekwiya date seeds to enhance goat meat quality and shelf life

This research aimed to elaborate a gelatin-Kappa carrageenan-based packaging with 0.22 %, 0.44 %, and 0.88 % w/v of Mekwiya date palm seeds extract (DSEMK). This extract improved the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of the films. Moisture content, water solubility, and water vapor permeability were reduced from 17.54 ± 0.02 to 12.18 ± 0.02, from 77.61 ± 0.02 to 25.35 ± 0.29 %, and from 5.28 ± 0.29 to 1.69 ± 0.03 g s−1 m−1 Pa−1 × 10−10, respectively. During thermal degradation, DSEMK4 film had a residual weight of 27.99 %, compared to 20.67 % for the control. Despite a decline in the film's tensile strength from 24.19 to 8.94 MPa with the incorporation of DSEMK, elongation at the breaking point increased from 37.66 ± 0.16 to 46.17 ± 0.25 %. The film containing DSEMK4 displayed the highest phenolic contents and illustrated the best antioxidant effects in DPPH and FRAP assays, with IC50s of 756 and 1445 μg/mL, respectively and inhibited pathogen growth on the meat surface. Over storage at 4 °C, monitoring of pH, lipid and protein oxidation parameters, microbial spoilage, optical properties, and sensory attributes disclosed that the DSEMK-films successfully enhanced the meat quality and safety. These findings were supported by principal component analysis and heat maps.

Burden and Cost of Campylobacter Risk Factors in Australia.

Campylobacter is a globally important pathogen with well-studied risk factors, but the burden of risk factors has not been quantified. We quantified the cost of illness attributable to specific domestic risk factors for C. jejuni and C. coli in Australia. We used data from a 2018-2019 case-control study to estimate odds ratios and attributable fractions for risk factors. We used data on national incidence, hospitalization, and premature mortality to quantify burden. We then applied costs related to healthcare utilization, pain and suffering, premature mortality, and lost productivity to each risk factor. In Australia, C. jejuni caused 83.0% of campylobacteriosis infections and chicken consumption resulted in the highest attributable fraction (30.0%), costing approximately US$110 million annually. The excess burden of campylobacteriosis associated with the use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) was US$45 million, with almost half these costs due to disease in adults over 65 years of age. Contact with young dogs (US$30 million) and chicken feces (US$10 million) also contributed to costs and burden. Campylobacteriosis is a significant cost to Australia, particularly because of lost productivity. Effective cross-sectoral interventions to improve chicken meat safety and reduce inappropriate use of PPIs might have substantial economic and human benefits.

Development and application of a low-cost and portable multi-channel spectral detection system for mutton adulteration

It is important to develop low-cost, fast and portable meat adulteration detection systems to ensure the meat authenticity and safety in complex market environments. A multi-channel spectral detection system for meat adulteration was developed in this study. The core hardware of the system mainly includes a designed spectral module and a Raspberry pi controller. The spectral module consists of three multi-channel spectral sensors and LED lamps with specific wavelengths, containing 18 channels covering a range of 410–940 nm. The software was developed based on PyQt5. After completing the construction of the system, the detection distance was discussed and determined to be 4 mm. Based on the spectral data collected by the developed system, the models for classifying pure mutton, pure pork, mutton flavour essence adulteration, colourant adulteration and adulterated mutton with pork were established and compared. Four intelligent optimisation algorithms were further used to improve the model performance. The results of the test set showed that the support vector classification (SVC) model optimised by a sparrow search algorithm (SSA) obtained the best classification performance, with an accuracy of 97.59% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.9696. After the SSA-SVC was incorporated into the sensor software, the system performance was evaluated using external validation samples. The overall accuracy of the system was 94.29%. The system took about 5.31 s to detect a sample, and the total weight of the system was 1.55 kg. Overall, the developed portable spectral system has considerable potential to rapidly and accurately discriminate adulterated mutton in the field.

Unveiling the mix-up: investigating species and unauthorized tissues in beef-based meat products

Customers are very concerned about high-quality products whose provenance is healthy. The identification of meat authenticity is a subject of growing concern for a variety of reasons, including religious, economic, legal, and public health. Between March and April of 2023, 150 distinct marketable beef product samples from various retailers in El-Fayoum, Egypt, were gathered. There were 30 samples of each of the following: luncheon, kofta, sausage, burger, and minced meat. Every sample underwent a histological investigation as well as subjected to a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to identify meat types that had not been stated by Egyptian regulations. According to the obtained data, the meat products under scrutiny contained a variety of unauthorized tissues which do not match Egyptian regulations. Furthermore, the PCR results indicated that the chicken, camels, donkeys, and pigs derivatives were detected in 60%, 30%, 16%, and 8% of examined samples, respectively. In conclusion, besides displaying a variety of illegal tissues, the majority of the meat items under examination were tainted with flesh from many species. As a result, it is crucial to regularly inspect these products before they are put on the market to ensure that they comply with the law and don’t mislead customers Furthermore, it is advisable for authorities to implement rigorous oversight of food manufacturing facilities to ensure the production of safe and wholesome meat.

Enhancing Deer Sous Vide Meat Shelf Life and Safety with Eugenia caryophyllus Essential Oil against Salmonella enterica.

Modern lifestyles have increased the focus on food stability and human health due to evolving industrial goals and scientific advancements. Pathogenic microorganisms significantly challenge food quality, with Salmonella enterica and other planktonic cells capable of forming biofilms that make them more resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics. This research examined the chemical composition and antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of the essential oil from Eugenia caryophyllus (ECEO) derived from dried fruits. GC-MS analyses identified eugenol as the dominant component at 82.7%. Additionally, the study aimed to extend the shelf life of sous vide deer meat by applying a plant essential oil and inoculating it with S. enterica for seven days at 4 °C. The essential oil demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against S. enterica. The ECEO showed significant antibiofilm activity, as indicated by the MBIC crystal violet test results. Data from MALDI-TOF MS analysis revealed that the ECEO altered the protein profiles of bacteria on glass and stainless-steel surfaces. Furthermore, the ECEO was found to have a beneficial antibacterial effect on S. enterica. In vacuum-packed sous vide red deer meat samples, the anti-Salmonella activity of the ECEO was slightly higher than that of the control samples. These findings underscore the potential of the ECEO's antibacterial and antibiofilm properties in food preservation and extending the shelf life of meat.