Patrik Buholzer
Senior Product Manager, Swine Diagnostics Thermo Fisher Scientific
Why is a more modern, integrated approach to meat inspection needed?
The purpose of meat inspection is to help guarantee consumer health protection from potential hazards transmitted by food. It also assists in monitoring disease in national herds and flocks by providing feedback to the producer.
The system of ‘traditional’ meat inspection that is currently used in many countries was developed in the mid 1880’s. It involves palpation and incisions of organs and lymph nodes. Each carcass is subjected to the same inspection procedure regardless of the animal’s origin. With today’s access to technology and consumer demands, it’s imperative that the industry consider a more advanced approach which takes the entire value chain into account.
How can this advanced approach drive improvements in the value chain?
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s meat inspection concept provides the additional data producers require to help better protect their value chain. In this approach, blood samples taken at the abattoir from a representative number of animals are tested for antibodies against zoonotic pathogens. The results are fed back to the producer and, if needed, corrective measures are taken at intervention points.
Through that constant monitoring, risk profiles of the farm can be made and corrective measures can be implemented. Success of corrective measures at the production site is monitored in every batch delivered to the slaughterhouse. This comprehensive approach supports continuous monitoring and improvement of the value chain.
How can the testing program impact farmers’ operations?
A testing program can:
- Identify intervention points
- Facilitate implementation of appropriate measures
- Help reduce production costs
- Help protect livestock and consumers in an efficient, effective, and holistic way
What diseases does the diagnostic panel include?
Thermo Fisher offers a comprehensive panel of diagnostic solutions for the most important zoonotic pathogens in swine:
- Trichinella
- Toxoplasma
- Salmonella
- Hepatitis E virus
- Mycobacterium avium
For more information about the Applied Biosystems harvest panel, please visit www.thermofisher.com/harvestsolutions
