Sensing for Tissue Characterisation- Contamination Detection

Summary

The first stage of this project was focused on identifying the major factors relating to slaughter-floor carcass contamination, for both beef and sheep plants.

The issue of defects, e.g. bruising & ecchymosis, was also investigated. Research indicated that faeces and ingesta were the main contaminants of concern to the industry, with urine, milk, bile and hair/wool also rating highly.

The related costs to industry incurred by the prevention and removal of contamination and defects were also looked at.

The focus of the work presented in the second stage of the project was the investigation of the actual constituents and the physical and chemical properties of the major contaminants previously recognised. Examples of this are faeces and ingesta, which are chiefly composed of plant matter and hence chlorophyll, particularly where animals are grass fed.

Subsequent to gaining an understanding of these constituents, the focus was on sensing techniques that may be appropriate for their detection. Some of these are in the form of existing systems that are currently being used in industry, e.g. the VerifEYE™; others would be classified as emerging technologies, such as the use of T-Rays.

In-house verification trials and investigation at Food Science Australia were performed using thermal imaging and spectrometry. The thermal imaging was based around recently slaughtered carcasses, while the spectrometer was used in conjunction with meat
samples.

Although there has been a certain amount of research undertaken in the field of contamination detection, there is very little that has filtered through to industry. There does exist, however, a number of technologies that, with further development, may be applicable to an automated system. Methods such as spectrometry, vision systems and “electronic noses” may have a place in an in-line sensing system. These methods have a number of limitations, meaning that a considerable amount of research and development
would be required before their adaptation into a slaughter floor was effective.