Risk-based evaluation of postmortem inspection procedures for pigs in Australia

The results of traditional (incision) and risk-based (visual) postmortem inspection procedures were compared on groups of approximately 30,000 pigs. The performance characteristics used as a basis for comparison included the non-detection rates of grossly detectable abnormalities, the microbiological contamination rates of carcases and boned product, the association of reactive lymph nodes with carcase condemnation and the achievement of 'finished product standards' for 'wholesomeness'. It was estimated that 6 per cent of all cases of abscessation and 28 per cent of all cases of arthritis were undetected by the traditional method, and the comparable figures for the risk-based procedure were 19 per cent and 39 per cent. However, when the rates of contamination of undetected abnormalities with foodborne hazards and other carcase contamination parameters were taken into account, it was concluded that both inspection systems were likely to result in a very similar level of consumer protection. Any increase in potential exposure to foodborne hazards in the abnormalities undetected by risk-based inspection would be insignificant in comparison with the potential exposure to foodborne hazards resulting from contaminated 'normal' lymph nodes and carcase surfaces. There were no statistically significant differences between the two procedures in the contamination rates of pre-chill carcases or boned retail products with Salmonella and Yersinia species.     

Risk assessment of organoleptic postmortem inspection procedures for pigs

A systematic quantification of foodborne hazards in abnormal and normal tissues of pig carcases was undertaken to provide a risk-based assessment of the effectiveness of traditional organoleptic meat inspection. A total of 36,059 pigs, representing all major pig-producing areas and systems in Australia, were inspected on a seasonal basis at three abattoirs over 12 months. The prevalence of grossly detectable abnormalities of possible food-borne disease significance was recorded. A subset of the grossly detectable abnormalities, together with tissues classified by inspection as normal (controls) were submitted for the detection of a broad range of food-borne hazards. The potential exposure of consumers to hazards in fresh pork was characterised as the number of carcases per 10,000 containing hazards in selected tissues. The results indicated that the level of exposure of consumers to microbiological hazards in fresh pork is unlikely to be reduced significantly by the detection and removal of gross abnormalities in the tissues examined. On the basis of carcase throughput, the rate of contamination of normal lymph nodes was commonly 100 times higher, and no hazards were isolated from two types of grossly abnormal nodes. While further processing, cooking and handling may alter the exposure characterisation, the study nevertheless identifies the proportional contribution of abnormal and normal tissues to risks to consumers and clearly identifies the need for consideration of 'visual only' inspection in the re-evaluation of traditional inspection procedures.     

Impact of ovine meat inspection systems on processing and production costs

The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of government-regulated meat inspection systems are under review in a number of countries. A post mortem organoleptic meat inspection programme is the most costly component of an inspection system and the procedures applied to a particular class of livestock should be appropriate to the spectrum and prevalence of diseases and defects present in each geographical region. Awareness of the impact of specific inspection requirements on processing costs, the application of integrated quality management principles and the development of programmes that disseminate information on diseases and defects and reward the producer of high-quality carcases, are all features of an efficient and cost-effective inspection system.     

Results of the evaluation of food chain information for a risk-oriented meat inspection

In a scientific project 469 slaughter groups originating from 39 farmers with 37.222 pigs in total were investigated concerning the usefulness of the food chain information. A standard statement does not include enough relevant information for the official veterinarian in the slaughterhouse to do a risk-based meat inspection. Even the food chain information for the visual meat inspection, which has certain limits, shows only farms, where the animals are of good health. Groups of fattened pigs with an extreme high rate of mortality and many abnormalities mean a potential risk for food safety. So for a risk-based meat inspection it is affordable to develop information-systems with real mortality and finding rates and the use of drugs on the farm.     

Assessment of organoleptic postmortem inspection techniques for bovine offal

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate organoleptic postmortem inspection techniques for bovine livers and kidneys. STUDY DESIGN: At Australian export abattoirs, bovine liver and kidneys are assessed and graded by qualified meat inspectors during normal operations. Over a 12-month period at a large abattoir in eastern Australia during 1997 and 1998, a sample of these organs was reassessed independently using a range of pathological and microbiological methods. Agreement between routine inspection and independent assessment was evaluated using methods of inter-rater agreement. RESULTS: A total of 944 livers and 1374 kidneys were included in the study. All of these organs had been classified during routine inspection. The authors examined 363 livers and 329 kidneys both grossly and histologically, including 36 livers and 14 kidneys that were also subjected to microbiological examination. All other organs were only examined grossly. There was only a moderate level of agreement between the routine and independent assessment methods. For livers, the percentage agreement was 80.2%, McNemar's test of symmetry 55.2 (3 degrees of freedom, P < 0.001) and kappa 0.63. For kidneys, the percentage agreement was 67.8%, McNemar's test of symmetry 9.9 (1 df, P = 0.002) and kappa 0.35. CONCLUSIONS: The results reinforce concerns from a number of authors about organoleptic postmortem inspection. Risk assessment methodologies offer the opportunity to modify inspection techniques in a manner that is most relevant to current public health concerns.     

Assessment of organoleptic postmortem inspection techniques for bovine offal

Objective To evaluate organoleptic postmortem inspection techniques for bovine livers and kidneys.
Study design At Australian export abattoirs, bovine liver and kidneys are assessed and graded by qualified meat inspectors during normal operations. Over a 12-month period at a large abattoir in eastern Australia during 1997 and 1998, a sample of these organs was reassessed independently using a range of pathological and microbiological methods. Agreement between routine inspection and independent assessment was evaluated using methods of inter-rater agreement.
Results A total of 944 livers and 1374 kidneys were included in the study. All of these organs had been classified during routine inspection. The authors examined 363 livers and 329 kidneys both grossly and histologically, including 36 livers and 14 kidneys that were also subjected to microbiological examination. All other organs were only examined grossly. There was only a moderate level of agreement between the routine and independent assessment methods. For livers, the percentage agreement was 80.2%, McNemar's test of symmetry 55.2 (3 degrees of freedom, P < 0.001) and kappa 0.63. For kidneys, the percentage agreement was 67.8%, McNemar's test of symmetry 9.9 (1df, P = 0.002) and kappa 0.35.
Conclusions The results reinforce concerns from a number of authors about organoleptic postmortem inspection. Risk assessment methodologies offer the opportunity to modify inspection techniques in a manner that is most relevant to current public health concerns.     

A possible approach to improve present meat inspection

The final decision in the meat inspection mainly depends on the results of the examinations before, during, or directly after the slaughter of animals in the slaughterhouse. The present threats to public health cannot be adequately judged on that place and under these circumstances. A new approach of the meat inspection methods is only possible with the cooperation of the other EU member states and the people who are involved in the meat inspection. New views on the purpose of meat inspection and the possibility of translation of these ideas towards Food Safety Objectives could be the basis for adaptation of the meat inspection. The rigid form in which the present meat inspection exists can be changed by this approach.