Producing Safe Beef Carcasses: Pre- And Post-Slaughter Strategies.

Producing Safe Beef Carcasses: Pre- And Post-Slaughter Strategies

Objective: Beef Carcasses that are Visually and Microbiologically Clean

Theories:• The Microbiological contamination that occurs during

the slaughter process is limited to the outside surface of carcasses

• Meat inside the carcass is naturally free of microorganisms

• By decontaminating carcass surfaces during and after the slaughter process, we can greatly reduce the potential for contamination of ground beef and other processed beef products downstream


How to achieve the objective:1. Prewash cattle to reduce contamination2. Phage Treatment prior to slaughter3. Eliminate gross contamination of the hide

using high pressure wash4. Apply Advanced technologies for hide removal5. Utilize validated antimicrobial carcass spray

treatments i.e. PAA; Sanova; Bromous Acid


6. Thermal Pasteurization with Steam or Hot Water.

7. Control environmental sources of contamination on the slaughter floor using Advanced Oxidation Technologies – This will address contamination carried on water droplets, particles and in the air.

8. Utilize Steam Vacuuming and Sanitary Knife Trimming to assure the removal of visible physical defects.


Post-Slaughter Control:1. Assure that carcasses are properly spaced

during chilling process.

2. Employ Advanced Oxidation Technology in Cooler – this will provide an additional reduction in microbiological contamination and prevent recontamination from environmental sources.


3. Carcass Pasteurization - A validated intervention employed after carcass chilling to address possible recontamination and outgrowth of microorganisms - This will provide a bridge from the slaughter operation to fabrication and further processing.

Carcass Irradiation is not currently an option.

4. Apply RTE principles in fabrication and further processing operations.

5. N-60 Testing provides useful verification that the process is working and is under control.

Theoretical System vs. Actual Implementation

• It is much easier to lay out a theoretical system than it is to make it a reality.

• Dan Schaefer, assistant vice president of R&D for Cargill Beef and Dean Danilson, vice president of food safety and quality assurance for Tyson Foods will explain what their companies have done to meet the objective of safe and clean beef carcasses.

Topics

• Existing Technology– Hide On Carcass Wash systems

• Emerging Technologies– E. coli O157 Vaccine– Sodium Chlorate

Pre-Harvest ObjectiveTo lower pathogen contamination on beef

carcassesTarget this Not this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EscherichiaColi_NIAID.jpg

Hide On Carcass Wash• High Pressure (>600 psi), Moderate Flow• Three Stages

Bosilevac et al. (2005) J. Food Prot. V.68 N.2 pp.265-272

Existing Technology

TreatmentE. coli O157

Prevalence (%)E. coli O157

Prevalence (%)

Before HOCW 44% 88%

After HOCW 16% _____

Carcasses before Pre-Evisceration Intervention

2% 17%

Hide On Carcass Wash• Low pressure, High Flow (231g/min)

• Two stages

Arthur et al. (2007) J. Food Prot. V.70 N.5 pp.1076-1079

Existing Technology

TreatmentE. coli O157 Prevalence

(%)

E. coli O157 Enumerable

(% with >40 cfu)

Salmonella spp. Prevalence

(%)

Salmonella spp. Enumerable

(% with >40 cfu)

Before 98% 35% 95% 40%

After 90% 13% 69% 7%

• Bioniche Product

– Targets Type III secreted proteins that are involved in E. coli O157 attachment to mucosal epithelial cells

– Builds herd immunity to Type III secreted proteins

– Fully Licensed in Canada

– Marketed as EconicheTM

E. coli O157 Vaccine

Emerging Technology

• Bioniche Product


TreatmentNumber of Fecal Cultures Positive

for E. coli O157 (%)

Vaccinates (3 doses) 36/564 (6.4%)

Non-Vaccinates 43/564 (7.5%)

NOTE: Fecal samples were taken serially on Days 14, 28, 42, and 56 (harvest) post final dose vaccination. Vaccinates showed numerically lower prevalence

on all sampling days except day 56, cattle harvest. The authors noted a significant weather event occurred just prior to Day 56 sampling.

Peterson, et al (2007) J. Food Prot. V.70 N.11 pp.2568-2577

Emerging Technology

• Epitopix Product

– Targets Siderophore Receptors and Porins (SRPs)

– SRPs are “highly conserved” outer cell membrane proteins that transport iron through the bacterial cell wall

– Causes bacterial cell death due to inability to intake iron

– Conditionally licensed in the United States


Emerging Technology

Vaccine Targets Siderophore Receptors and Porins (SRPs)

Epitopix, LLC

Emerging Technology


10.4

2.531.48 0.91

0

4

8

12

16

20

Fecal prevalence Fecal concentration

Fiel

d Effi

cacy

Stu

dy 2

: 200

7 • 86% reduction in fecal prevalence of E. coli O157

• 98% reduction in fecal concentration of E. coli O157

Both comparisons associated with P ≤ 0.02

Thomson et al. Foodborne Path and Disease. 6(7): 871-877.

Emerging Technology

Sodium ChlorateEmerging Technology

• Mode of action– Under anaerobic conditions, Gram negative bacteria utilize a nitrate

reductase enzyme to respire by converting Nitrate (NO3) Nitrite (NO2)

– The enzyme will also convert Sodium Chlorate (NaClO3) Sodium Chlorite (NaClO2)

– NaClO3 is inert to bacteria & organisms lacking nitrate reductase enzyme

– To bacteria with the enzyme the resulting NaClO2 is Cytotoxic

• Intended Usage

– To be fed the day prior to slaughter– Feed additive– No withdrawal

• Regulatory Clearance (Food additive petition)

– In progress, Pivotal study Summer 2010– Demonstrate efficacy on beef carcasses


• Challenge Study– Experimentally challenged cattle with a 3-strain

cocktail of E. coli O157:H7

– Administered via water

24-hours prior to slaughter

– Decreased E. coli O157

strains by 3 logs (106 to 103)

in fecal samples


Callaway et al. (2002) J. Anim. Sci. v.80 pp.1683-1689

Objective: To lower pathogen contamination on beef carcasses

– Hide On Carcass Washes are current technologies that can be implemented within a harvest facility.

– Vaccines and Sodium Chlorate are emerging technologies to be utilized prior to arrival at a harvest facility.

Summary

A Few Words From Our Sponsor

WAYNE BENSONDirector, Sales and Marketing

For more information, visit us at www.ems.ingersollrand.com

or call 952-885-3562

http://www.ems.ingersollrand.com/

Multiple Hurdle InterventionsSlaughter Phase

• Pre-Harvest

• Mechanical

• Antimicrobials

• Procedures

Pathogen Control Of Beef Carcass Production – An INTEGRATED Approach

• Executive Management• Plant / Corporate• Operations–Maintenance–Engineering-Safety• QA-HACCP-R&D• Procurement – Raw Materials• Cattle Buyers• Scheduling – Logistics• Sales Team [not Marketing]• Customers [domestic, export]• USDA

Interventions – Pre-Harvest

• Seasonal [April-September; October-March]• Climate-Region [dry-arid, wet-humid]• Dust Management – Hide & Air [summer]• Pen Washing/Cleaning• Hide Wetting/Washing• Water [water troughs, sprinklers, cleaning] • Mud Scores ?• Bacteriophage• Other

Interventions – Mechanical I

• Air Flows [positive-negative differential pressures & alarms; clean-to-dirty; roof, floor, doors, drains]

• Traffic Patterns [clean-to-dirty, inside/outside traffic]

• Hide Wetting/Washing – [pre-slaughter; post-slaughter]

• Hide Removal [physical; aerosols]

• Hide/Viscera to Carcass Preventions

• PECS – on/off; water only; hot water [recirc-validation]; antimicrobials – see later slide ]

Interventions – Mechanical II

• Head Wash [water only; temp-time-nozzles, antimicrobials?]

• Steam Vacs & Knife Trimming

• Dual Knives & Dual Equipment [i.e., weasand, etc]

• Sterilizers [water temp; time-dwell, flow-thru/overflow]

• Equipment Wash [water temp; splash]

• Cross-Contamination Potentials [rub; drip; splash; air]

• Flaps & Folds – Carcass Trimming

Interventions – Mechanical III

• Carcass Wash [engineered cabinet or hand wash]

• Carcass Thermal – Steam; Hot Water [freeflow or recirc]; temps, dwell time, validations]

• Maintenance of Wash-Steam Cabinets [nozzles, flows-patterns, water temp/volume/pressure, exhausts, drains, doors, over-heads, rub points]

• Coolers – chill rate, spacing, spray chill water temp; cooler cleanout [routine/periodic], cooler fogging, condensation, drains [floor & roof]; spray chill antimicrobial [PAA~30ppm]

Interventions – Antimicrobials I• PECS – hot water >160F carcass surface; lactic mist ~4%; full flow PAA-peroxyacetic ~175ppm, ….]

• Head Wash [post wash spray – lactic mist~4%, PAA~175ppm]

• Offals [head, cheek, weasand, hearts] – PAA~175ppm; lactic mist~4%, N60 lot tested]

• Carcass Wash [water only; bromous acid ~230ppm]

• Carcass Thermal [>160F carcass surface; dwell time; top-to-bottom mapping; validation]

• Carcass PreChill – [ASCpH/ppm; lactic~4%; PAA~175ppm]

Interventions – Antimicrobials II• Validations & On-Going Applicatons

• academic / plant data; • operating paramaters –

• Range vs Target Concentrations

• Flow Rates

• Water temperature / quality

• Dwell times

• Other

• Mechanical Performance of Equipment During Routine and Non-Routine operations

Interventions – Procedural I• Hygienic Carcass Dress Procedures

• Conditional Chain Speed Management

• Air Balance Controls & Alarm Procedures

• In-Process Controls - Slaughter Dress [fecal]

• Zero Tolerance on Carcass & Offals

• HACCP/SSOP programs

• QA support systems

• BioMap system analysis – micros

Poll Question:

N60-Trim testing by the slaughter plant is best defined as:

• Verification of production systems• Verification of process controls• Validation of HACCP programs• A Waste of Time and Money

Interventions – Procedural II• N60 Testing of Offals for System Verification

• N60 Testing of 100% Trim for System Verification

• Equipment SOPs & PMs

• Event Procedures [trim test data]

• Emergency Evisceration Procedures

• Downed Carcass & Red Beef Procedures

• Construction/Deconstruction Procedures

• Incident Investigation – each incident requires investigation; corrective action and further preventive actions when root cause identified.

Poll Question:

Direct contamination from hide-to-carcass is the primary vector for E. coli O157:H7?

• Agree• Disagree• Don’t Know

• Worker Training and Hygiene Methods Implementation• Multiple Hurdles – mechanical, antimicrobial, procedures

– Pre-Harvest – Hide Wetting-Washing; Phage Live Animal]– Steam Vacuums to Treat Pattern Marks– Pre-Evisceration Carcass [PECS] & Offal Treatments– Equipment Sanitation – Dual Knife/Equipment– Carcass Cleansing – Final Carcass Wash– Final Carcass Intervention (Thermal, Acidified Sodium

Chlorite; Bromous Acid]• Environmental Controls – Differential Pressure, Air Flows, Air

Treatments• On-Going System Review – HACCP/SSOP; GMP• Verification Testing - N60 Trim and Offal Testing• Incident Investigation & Event Program

ANTIMICROBIAL RINSE

LIVE ANIMAL STEAM TREATMENT

PRE-EVISCERATIONCARCASS SPRAY

STEAMVACUUMING

HIDEREMOVAL

Integration Elements

A Few Words From Our Sponsor

WAYNE BENSONDirector, Sales and Marketing

For more information, visit us at www.ems.ingersollrand.com

or call 952-885-3562

http://www.ems.ingersollrand.com/

Poll Question:

Do you think that pasteurizing carcasses is the key to solving the E. coli problem?

• Yes• No• Don’t know

Carcass Pasteurization

• The theory behind carcass pasteurization is to eliminate pathogen contamination at the one point in the process where it is limited to a single site – the surface of the carcass – “The Cantaloupe Theory”

• After the carcass is cut into subprimals and trimmings, it is much more difficult to eliminate microbiological contaminants


• Technologies for Pasteurizing Chilled Carcasses:

• E-Beam Irradiation – Not Approved• Advanced Oxidation – Exposure to Oxidative

gases – H2O2 and O3• Treatment using Ammonia Gas - ?• Chemical Treatments – PAA; Sanova and

Bromous Acid


• Options are Limited• Research on Advanced Oxidation Technologies

is promising – 2-3 Log reduction• Exposure to Reactive Oxygen Species can be

accomplished during the chilling process – 24 -72 hours

Environmental Management System (EMS)

• EMS uses electricity to produce low levels of oxidative gases, including H2O2 and O3

• Levels are very low and do not pose a risk to employees

• EMS has applications for controlling airborne and vapor borne contaminants during the slaughter process and fabrication


• EMS also has applications for carcass pasteurization

• Since the antimicrobials – O3 and H2O2 are in gas form, they reach every exposed surface

• EMS also prevents recontamination of carcasses during chilling from environmental sources


• KSU Study on Inoculated Beef Carcass Tissue• One hour of exposure to EMS resulted in a 2.1

log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 and a 2.2 log reduction in Salmonella

• Research is continuing to evaluate exposure times up to 24 hours


• Chemical treatments also provide a 2-3 log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella

• Future research will evaluate combining EMS with a UV treatment and with PAA, Bromous Acid and Sanova

• Carcass pasteurization objective: 5 log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella


Summary

• Beef safety is a continuum that requires a commitment from producers, packers, processors and consumers

• Technologies are available that allow for the production of beef carcasses that are visually and microbiologically clean

• Microbiological sampling and testing systems provide verification that the systems are working


• An integral part of the solution to the problem of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef is to produce pasteurized beef carcasses that are virtually free of enteric contamination – This includes E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella

• Extraordinary measures are required n order to eliminate E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from beef carcasses and consumer beef products


• Ideally, the slaughter process should employ interventions that result in a minimum 5 log reduction in these pathogens.

• In the December Webinar, technologies were discussed that provide for a > 2 log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella during processing.

• The universal implementation of these interventions combined with consumer education on proper handling and cooking will go a long way to a real solution to the problem

For More Information:

Dr. James Marsden: [email protected]

Dan Schaefer: [email protected]

Dean Danilson: [email protected]

Bill McDowell: [email protected]

Tom Johnston: [email protected]

Webinar recording and PowerPoint presentation available at:

www.meatingplace.com/webinars

mailto:[email protected]






http://www.meatingplace.com/webinars

http://www.meatingplace.com/webinars

Producing Safe Beef Carcasses: Pre- And Post-Slaughter Strategies.

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