A European survey on post-mortem inspection of finishing pigs: Total condemnation criteria to declare meat unfit for human consumption. (20th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vieira-Pinto, Madalena; Langkabel, Nina; Santos, Susana; Alban, Lis; Laguna, Jaime Gómez; Blagojevic, Bojan; Meemken, Diana; Bonardi, Silvia; Antunović, Boris; Ghidini, Sergio; Maurer, Patric; Alvseike, Ole; Laukkanen-Ninios, Riikka
• Is Part Of: Research in veterinary science. Volume 152(2022)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2022-12-20
• Subjects: Post-mortem meat inspection -- Total condemnation criteria -- Pig -- Meat fitness; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Médecine vétérinaire -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Diergeneeskunde; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.07.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-5288

Abstract

Abstract: Meat inspection (MI) is essential to verify compliance with legal requirements related to human and animal health and animal welfare protections. Judgement criteria applied during MI, resulting in condemnation data of importance, among other things, for livestock producers and for benchmarking reasons. However, although the Meat Inspection Regulation sets out judgement criteria, most are generic, favouring flexibility, but also subjectivity. To address the degree of variation on total condemnation (TC) criteria applied during post-mortem inspection (PMI) of finishing pigs, an online survey was prepared aiming to collect this information from several European countries. The focus was on TC criteria regarding the following PMI findings: abscesses, arthritis, cachexia, erysipelas, icterus, Mycobacterium -like lesions, osteomyelitis, peritonitis, pleuritis and pneumonia. From September to November 2020, a total of 44 completed questionnaires were obtained from 26 European countries. The results showed a substantial variation in the TC criteria in place in the participating countries. One of the main reasons for the variability seen in the respondents' reported answers was related to the indicators used to define a generalised condition related to the 10 PMI findings addressed, making harmonisation a challenge and avoiding to draw conclusions when comparing condemnation causes between abattoirs. This implies that it would make sense to look into how a generalised condition can be identified/described and how it should be judged. The results should be used as inspiration towards possible harmonisation, improving decision-making, and permitting comparative analysis between different reports to allow trend analyses and benchmarking. Highlights: Criteria for total condemnations of pig carcasses differed across Europe. Bias due to definitions and diagnosis of generalised conditions should be reduced. Presence of different lesions in combination makes harmonisation challenging. Definitions of findings indicating that an animal is generally affected are needed. Important for the reduction of food waste and benchmarking.