Novel soaker pad development to improve red meat quality
Did you know, a new sustainable soaker pad is being developed to improve red meat quality?
| Publication date: | 15 August 2021 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Summary
The aim of this PhD project (as part of Monash GRIP cohort) is to develop sustainable superabsorbent composites which can efficiently absorb drip loss from red meat packaging. The project looks at developing the modern engineering and technology available in the personal care industry, with a specific focus on application in the red meat industry.
Objectives
- Develop sustainable superabsorbent and quantify mechanical property
- Correlate swelling mechanism with crosslinking type
- Quantify absorption kinetics with surface charge and ionic strength
- Quantify product biodegradability under accelerated condition.
Key findings
Learning from adjacent sectors to tackle big complex problems is a key approach adopted by MLA. The aim of supporting a Monash PhD student explore materials used in personal hygiene products to cross over as potential meat packaging options (such as soaker pads to reduce drip loss in packs) highlights the market interest in both sustainable and well-presented packaging. The results from this study highlights key material chemistry findings for developing a novel soaker pad using reduced materials.
Benefits to industry
- Reduces environmentally impactful waste while improving the quality and appearance of the meat.
- Consumer survey about the new product indicated positive feedback which encourages greater purchasing of red meat.
- The superabsorbent can not only be used in meat packaging, it can also be used for other food packaging or baby diaper which expands the market and opens the scope of collaboration.
MLA action
MLA continues to explore various innovations that reduce packaging waste and improve red meat quality.
Future research
- Test the developed superabsorbent composites in real scenario and find out the best performant absorbent
- Compare shelf life of meat when using the sustainable superabsorbent with the commercial superabsorbent
- Analyse the coats for large scale production and find ways to minimise the cost.
More information
| Project manager: | Michael Lee |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
