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Red Meat
Shelf-life evaluation of sliced lamb shoulders
Andreas Kiermeier, Geoff Holds, Stewart Eddie
June to September 2009
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Assess the microbiological and organoleptic properties of sliced lambs shoulders, packed in overwrap trays and stored under appropriate conditions.
Outcomes
- Improved market access to Japan.
National microbiological database analysis tool
Michelle Lorimer, Andreas Kiermeier
April to December 2010
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Develop software capable of carrying out regular data analysis of data from the ESAM database and provide regular reporting.
- Provide a demonstration of the system along with training to ensure a fully functioning system.
Outcomes
- Software interface between ESAM database and R statistical analysis software and Adobe Reader developed.
- Software system implemented at establishments to allow them to run own reports against national benchmarks.
Review of surveillance data capture systems in abattoirs
Andew Pointon, Jan Jackowiak, Michael Paton
April to July 2008
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Identify projects both in Australia and overseas that have investigated the application of electronic information management to the capture of surveillance data in abattoirs for the extensive livestock species.
- Evaluate the possible application of such information systems in the Australian context for the beef and sheep industries.
- Identify the current situation with processors and make recommendations for investment in research and/or the development of a pilot project to evaluate the usefulness of such information systems in Australian abattoirs.
Outcomes
- Evaluation of potential approaches and options for consideration.
A review of sulphites in raw meat sausages
Andrew Pointon, Ian Delaere, Andreas Kiermeier, Michelle Lorimer, David Hamilton, Jo Slade, John Sumner
November 2007 to February 2008
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Review recently generated industry data on the effects of sulphite levels on the shelf life of sausages and the residual levels of sulphites present in cooked sausages, and the subsequent industry conclusions and recommendations.
- Review the supply chain distribution and the necessary product shelf life requirements for sausages in urban and remote regions in Australia and New Zealand.
- Examine and review the current storage, transport and retail practices for processed meat in Australia and New Zealand, with a particular focus on raw meat sausages.
- Identify changes in the manufacturing processes of sausages that may have a bearing on levels of preservative required in products.
- Consider potential impacts of lowering levels of sulphites on processed meat industry sector.
- Examine and review the processed meat industry in other countries.
Outcomes
- Identify whether and which good hygienic practices would replace the use of sulphites and what the financial costs of using alternatives would impose on industry.
National serological baseline survey of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and lamb meat
Andreas Kiermeier, David Hamilton, Gayle Smith
September 2007 to April 2008
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Estimate the T. gondii sero-prevalence in lambs and older sheep.
- Develop a storage bank of tissue (tongue samples) from sero-positive animals for genotyping at a later date.
- Keep a watch on international and domestic literature regarding methodology for T. gondii genotyping and which organisations are involved in T. gondii research.
Outcomes
- Outline the national sero-prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and lambs in Australia.
- Outline the implications of findings for industry.
Identification, collation and review of microbiological risk assessments for manufactured and processed meats
Andrew Pointon, Ian Delaere, Jo Slade, John Sumner
October 2007 to February 2008
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Describe the stages and steps involved in producing manufactured and processed meats.
- Identify the major microbiological hazards of concern.
- Identify sources and factors contributing throughout the production chain, to contamination of the finished product.
- Identify, collect and collate relevant published and unpublished risk assessments on microbiological hazards in manufactured and processed meats.
- Review the risk assessments and summarise their findings.
- Identify current practices employed by industry to prevent and control Listeria monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products.
- With regards to Listeria monocytogenes, collect and collate prevalence and incidence data in RTE meats in Australia, from industry and other sources.
- Identify data gaps and deficiencies.
Outcomes
- Industry and FSANZ abreast of relevant through chain hazard information and data gaps at the commencement of the Meat and Meat Products standards development process
Identification, collation and review of risk assessments on meat and meat products
Andrew Pointon, Ian Delaere, David Hamilton, Jo Slade, John Sumner, Andreas Kiermeier
May to September 2007
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Describe the stages and steps from production (including wild capture) through to retail of meat, offal and meat products.
- Identify, collect and collate relevant published and unpublished risk assessments on microbiological and physical hazards and chemical contaminants from primary production through to retail.
- Identify the major microbiological and physical hazards and chemical contaminants of concern and where during animal production and processing these may arise.
- Review the risk assessments and summarise their findings.
- Identify data gaps and deficiencies
Outcomes
- Industry and FSANZ abreast of relevant through-chain hazard information and data gaps at the commencement of the Meat and Meat Products standards development process.
- Early consultation with industry provides time for tactical R&D to fill important data gaps prior to development of the Meat and Meat Products Standard.
Scientific Risk Management Panel
Andrew Pointon
2006–2010
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Evaluate scientific data contained in reports from Meat & Livestock Association (MLA) projects and other scientific literature
- Identify issues based on evaluation of scientific data, and recommend priority knowledge gaps to be filled
- Advise on required baseline studies
- Review and update risk profiles; recommend complete risk assessments if required
- Review the process risk model and make suggestions for improving the model
- Overview and evaluate output from research projects relating to selected risks, and advise on contextualisation of these outputs in risk management options and process risk model.
Outcomes
- Identify significant hazards, assess the risks in scientific terms and ensure that knowledge gaps in the understanding and management of the hazard in the Australian red meat industry are filled in an appropriate manner
- Interact with the developers of a process risk model
- Assist MLA in ensuring the wider research and development program responds to the known and anticipated requirements of the customer, and that priority is placed on the knowledge gaps for which customer requirements are known, or most anticipated
Incoming livestock and slaughter process assessment tool
Andreas Kiermeier
June–July 2006
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Development of Microsoft Excel-based tools for both beef and sheep processing, which will give risk-type ratings for incoming livestock, slaughter and dressing procedures and management.
- Production of a 'how-to' manual for successful operation of the tools
- Correlate scores from the tool with E. coli–Salmonella (ESAM) data, using a separate data set from that used to develop the tool, to validate outputs against existing data
Outcomes
- Develop a user-friendly tool, incorporating current understanding of beef and sheep processing, for processors to assess incoming livestock and processing procedures, and the factors contributing to each, with respect to their contribution to final carcase hygiene.
Maintenance and further development of process risk models
Andreas Kiermeier
May 2006–June 2010
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Document and explain the model to maintain transparency and accessibility to MLA and MLA’s scientific risk management panel
- Identify parts of the existing model which may need improvement/updating
- Contribute to the development of experimental and survey design for projects related to the model
- Identify areas within the processing chain which may be more important from a risk viewpoint, and therefore require a greater degree of investigation/knowledge.
Outcomes
- Allows for analysis of data in a descriptive and mathematical manner, and is useful within the pathogen program plan as a predictive tool to ensure MLA and the industry stays 'ahead of the play' rather than just 'reacting/ responding' to food safety concerns
QA Resource for processors – Chemical hazards
Andrew Pointon, Jo Slade
April–June 2006
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Provide QA managers in processing establishments with sufficient scientific background information, on the prescribed topics, in appropriate language, to allow them to design QA systems that will withstand requests from auditors for scientific substantiation
Outcomes
- Ensure Australian processors not only produce a consistent, quality product, but that they are also equipped to stand up to any scientific substantiation of their practices from external auditors.
Determining the relative sensitivity of three different sampling methods on cartons of beef trim
Geoff Holds, Andreas Kiermeier, Michelle Lorimer, John Sumner
March–July 2006
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Determine the comparative sensitivity of 3 sampling/culture systems for E. coli in beef trim (current Aust; current US; baseline US methods)
Outcomes
- Inform industry of probability of increased US port-of-entry violations and the need for additional interventions
Human health risk assessment of dietary exposure to edible tissues from cattle consuming toxic plants
Ian Delaere
February–May 2006
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Review the literature on pyrrolizidine alkaloids, ptaquiloside and indospicine (and their metabolites) as they apply to tissue residues and the development of a human health risk assessment
- Compile human health risk assessments on edible tissues from cattle who consumed plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids, ptaquiloside and indospicine
- Review potential exposure from meat and meat products from the perspective of general nutritional exposure
Outcomes
- Identify implications for trade, including information on standards and trends internationally for MLA.
Investigating feed and water curfews for the transport of livestock within Australia – a literature review
Andrew Pointon, Andreas Kiermeier, Ian Delaere
January–April 2006
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Provide a comprehensive literature review on the role of curfew time for beef cattle, sheep, lambs and goats with respect to animals destined for slaughter, focusing on food safety and carcase hygiene
Outcomes
- Enable MLA to develop a set of pre-slaughter guidelines that combine food safety, animal welfare, environmental and meat quality considerations
Beef dressing process model for E. coli
Andreas Kiermeier, Andrew Pointon
November 2005–February 2006
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Establish relationship between levels of E. coli O157 in animals, carcases, boned and minced meats to inform export testing requirements
Outcomes
- Underpin equivalence submission to US for market access testing
Factors contributing to the microbiological contamination of sheep carcases
Andreas Kiermeier, Andrew Pointon
September–November 2005
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Examine routine micro monitoring data in sheep export plants to identify areas for further investigation
Outcomes
- Identify research priorities to assist industry improve carcase dressing hygiene
Factors contributing to the microbiological contamination of beef carcases
Andreas Kiermeier, John Sumner, Paul Vanderlinde, Jo Bobbitt, Andrew Pointon
March–April 2005
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Examine routine micro monitoring data in beef export plants to identify areas for further investigation
Outcomes
- Identify research priorities to assist industry improve carcase dressing hygiene
Salmonella in game meat (kangaroo): Investigation of risk factors
John Sumner, Geoff Holds, Andrew Pointon, Elena Petrenas, Peter Dean, Geoff West, Geoff Raven
2003
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Evaluate the impact of carcase holding time before dressing on processing hygiene standards and Salmonella across five game meat processing plants
Outcomes
- Results used to minimise cross-contamination of carcases during dressing
Red meat on-farm food safety certification scheme – Level 1
Denis Brett, Peter Horchner, Ian Jenson, Andrew Pointon
2003
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Develop a generic food safety HACCP-based plan for mandatory implementation by red meat producers
- Design a scheme that meets international trade standards to underpin market access
Outcomes
- CattleCare and FlockCare QA programs to become optional Level 2 quality schemes
- Livestock Production Assurance Scheme being implemented in 2004 to all red meat producers nationally
Salmonella in game meat (kangaroo): A survey of carcase swabs and mince
John Sumner, Geoff Holds, Geoff Raven, Andrew Pointon
2003
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Evaluate the processing hygiene standards of game meat processing plants against the Australian Standard
- Benchmark the Salmonella status of game mince
Outcomes
- Results used to design future projects to target controls
Through chain risk profile for the Australian red meat industry
Andrew Pointon, Jo Slade and MLA appointed specialist team (20) from multiple agencies (7)
2002–2003
Project Objectives and Technical Outputs
- Identify public health hazards that enter any point of the food chain for beef, sheep or goat products produced in Australia and rank them in terms of risks to the consumer
- Identify hazards of potential high risk where too little information exists for a confident ranking of risk
- Identify potential management strategies for the identified hazards
- Identify areas where further information may be required to effectively assess or manage (potentially) significant risks
- Identify product:pathogen combinations in which further risk analysis might be performed
Outcomes
- Basis for SAFEMEAT Strategic Food Safety R&D Plan (2003–2006)
- Technical basis for On-Farm Food Safety Certification Scheme being developed by MLA
- Provided to members of Meat Standards Committee – used by state jurisdictions to assist planning of work programs
