The challenges and prospects of using cold plasma to prevent bacterial contamination and biofilm formation in the meat industry.

The risk of foodborne disease outbreaks increases when the pathogenic bacteria are able to form biofilms, and this presents a major threat to public health. An emerging non-thermal cold plasma (CP) technology has proven a highly effective method for decontaminating meats and their products and extended their shelf life. CP treatments have ability to reduce microbial load and, biofilm formation with minimal change of color, pH value, and lipid oxidation of various meat and meat products. The CP technique offers many advantages over conventional processing techniques due to its layout flexibility, nonthermal behavior, affordability, and ecological sustainability. The technology is still in its infancy, and continuous research efforts are needed to realize its full potential in the meat industry. This review addresses the basic principles and the impact of CP technology on biofilm formation, meat quality (including microbiological, color, pH value, texture, and lipid oxidation), and microbial inactivation pathways and also the prospects of this technology.

Prevalence of consumption of mechanically separated meat, consumer profile, nutrient intake and food choices among manufacturing workers in Northeastern Brazil.

Mechanically separated meat (MSM) is widely used in the food industry, however, there is a lack of studies on its consumption in populations. The objective of this study was to identify the frequency and amount of MSM consumption, factors associated with MSM consumption, nutrient intake and preferential choice of food groups among MSM consumers. This was an observational, cross-sectional prospective study based on a probability sample of manufacturing workers, conducted in Brazil. Logistic and linear multiple regression with robust standard errors were used. 921 workers from 33 manufacturing companies were studied, with an average age of 38.2 ± 10.7 years, 55.9% males. MSM products are consumed by 28.8% and represent in average 10% of total daily caloric intake, and 47.3% of the daily kcal from ultra-processed products. Younger age and greater waist circumference are associated with MSM consumption. Younger age and lesser educational level are associated with increased contribution of MSM to total daily kcal intake. MSM consumers have greater consumption of energy, fats, carbohydrates and sodium. Their dietary patterns are characterized by lower consumption of in natura and minimally processed foods, such as tubers and roots, fruits, white and red meat, and eggs and greater consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages.

Exploring Key Barriers of HACCP Certification Adoption in the Meat Industry: A Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory Approach.

Food safety management represents an important concern in contemporary society. The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system is a crucial tool for meat producers, preventing and controlling major food safety concerns in the process. This research investigates key barriers to HACCP implementation in the meat industry, employing the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) model to identify and categorize these obstacles. Using the insights of 18 experts, a cause-and-effect relationship diagram is generated through which twelve barriers are categorized in terms of their cause and effect and then analyzed. Threshold value is calculated as 0.299. The findings reveal poor management as the primary impediment, followed by challenges in training, knowledge, and dedication. Categorizing the barriers into four groups emphasizes the critical role of effective management and human resources. The study contributes valuable insights to food safety management literature, serving as a practical resource for industry practitioners. Despite limitations in relying on expert opinions and the industry-specific focus, the research lays a foundation for informed decision-making, stressing the importance of effective management in successful HACCP implementation. Future research directions include diversifying geographical representation, exploring practical solutions, and integrating emerging technologies for a better understanding of HACCP adoption challenges.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle enhanced microwave pretreatment for anaerobic digestion of meat industry sludge.

Our study investigates the effects of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles combined microwave pretreatment on the anaerobic digestibility and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) of meat industry sludge. One of our main objectives was to see whether the different microwave-based pretreatment procedures can enhance biogas production by improving the biological availability of organic compounds. Results demonstrated that combining microwave irradiation with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles considerably increased SCOD (enhancement ratio was above 1.5), the rate of specific biogas production, and the total cumulative specific biogas volume (more than a threefold increment), while having no negative effect on the biomethane content. Furthermore, the assessment of the sludge samples' dielectric properties (dielectric constant and loss factor measured at the frequency of 500 MHz) showed a strong correlation with SCOD changes (r = 0.9942, R2 = 0.99), offering a novel method to evaluate pretreatment efficiency.

Current technology and industrialization status of cell-cultivated meat.

Interest and investment in cultivated meat are increasing because of the realization that it can effectively supply sufficient food resources and reduce the use of livestock. Nevertheless, accurate information on the specific technologies used for cultivated meat production and the characteristics of cultivated meat is lacking. Authorization for the use of cultivated meat is already underway in the United States, Singapore, and Israel, and other major countries are also expected to approve cultivated meat as food once the details of the intricate process of producing cultivated meat, which encompasses stages such as cell proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and assembly, is thoroughly established. The development and standardization of mass production processes and safety evaluations must precede the industrialization and use of cultivated meat as food. However, the technology for the industrialization of cultivated meat is still in its nascent stage, and the mass production process has not yet been established. The mass production process of cultivated meat may not be easy to disclose because it is related to the interests of several companies or research teams. However, the overall research flow shows that equipment development for mass production and cell acquisition, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as for three-dimensional production supports and bioreactors have not yet been completed. Therefore, additional research on the mass production process and safety of cultivated meat is essential. The consumer's trust in the cultivated meat products and production technologies recently disclosed by some companies should also be analyzed and considered for guiding future developments in this industry. Furthermore, close monitoring by academia and the government will be necessary to identify fraud in the cultivated meat industry.

Scaling up stem cell production: harnessing the potential of microfluidic devices.

Stem cells are specialised cells characterised by their unique ability to both self-renew and transform into a wide array of specialised cell types. The widespread interest in stem cells for regenerative medicine and cultivated meat has led to a significant demand for these cells in both research and practical applications. Despite the growing need for stem cell manufacturing, the industry faces significant obstacles, including high costs for equipment and maintenance, complicated operation, and low product quality and yield. Microfluidic technology presents a promising solution to the abovementioned challenges. As an innovative approach for manipulating liquids and cells within microchannels, microfluidics offers a plethora of advantages at an industrial scale. These benefits encompass low setup costs, ease of operation and multiplexing, minimal energy consumption, and the added advantage of being labour-free. This review presents a thorough examination of the prominent microfluidic technologies employed in stem cell research and explores their promising applications in the burgeoning stem cell industry. It thoroughly examines how microfluidics can enhance cell harvesting from tissue samples, facilitate mixing and cryopreservation, streamline microcarrier production, and efficiently conduct cell separation, purification, washing, and final cell formulation post-culture.

Essential Oil and Plant Extracts as Preservatives and Natural Antioxidants Applied to Meat and Meat Products: A Review.

The meat and meat product industry has evolved according to the needs of the market. Consumers are increasingly seeking quality in food. Thus, the concern regarding the excessive use of additives such as preservatives and antioxidants has driven research towards natural, healthy and safe substitutes. Essential oils and plant extracts have been shown to be a good option for resolving this problem. They are completely natural with biological activity, which mainly includes prevention of oxidation and the proliferation of microorganisms, thus arousing the interest of the industry and consumers. This review will present studies published in the last five years regarding the potential of essential oils and plant extracts to act as preservatives and antioxidants in meat and meat products. The forms of application, innovations in the area, alternatives to the incorporation of essential oils and extracts in meat products, effects caused in food, and limitations of applications will be detailed and discussed.

Rapid detection of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) assay using a molecular beacon paired with HRPzyme.

Contamination by Escherichia coli O157:H7 is considered a threat in the livestock and food industries. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods for the convenient and rapid detection of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7. This study aimed to develop a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) assay using a molecular beacon to rapidly detect E. coli O157:H7. Primers and a molecular beacon were designed for targeting the Shiga-toxin-producing virulence genes (stx1 and stx2) as molecular markers. Additionally, Bst polymerase concentration and amplification conditions for bacterial detection were optimized. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were also investigated and validated on artificially tainted (100-104 CFU/g) Korean beef samples. The cLAMP assay could detect 1 × 101 CFU/g at 65 °C for both genes, and the assay was confirmed to be specific for E. coli O157:H7. The cLAMP takes about an hour and does not require expensive devices (e.g., thermal cycler and detector). Hence, the cLAMP assay proposed herein can be used in the meat industry as a fast and simple way to detect E. coli O157:H7.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, working conditions, and related risk factors in the meat processing industry: Comparative analysis of Iran-Poland.

BACKGROUND: Activities performed by people in the meat processing industry are very repetitive, time-consuming, dangerous, and require long-term downtime during a shift (forced-static position). OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders and working conditions among Polish and Iranian workers to fill this research gap. METHODS: A comparative analysis of the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in developed and developing countries was conducted. After selecting the target factories, data was collected using Nordic and Mental Stress Questionnaires and 3DSSPP software with the participation of 110 meat processing workers, including 55 Iranian and 55 Polish. RESULTS: This study showed nearly the same prevalence of MSDs among male Iranian and Polish workers, especially in elbow, wrist/hand, upper back, hip/thigh, and ankle/foot. The overall prevalence of MSDs was relatively high and connected to the lower back (38%, 64%), knee (40%, 24%), neck (24%, 42%), and upper back (24%, 34.5%), among Iranian and Polish workers, respectively. Assessment of logistic regression disclosed that the workplace is considerably associated with the elbow and the ankle/foot musculoskeletal pain, with 2.34 and 3.81 times more likely for the production room, respectively, among Iranian workers. CONCLUSION: Age, gender, type of occupation, work experience, smoking, insufficient physical activity, workplace, working postures, and stress level all affected the likelihood of MSDs happening in various body regions in both countries, implying that both individual and work-related (both physical and psychosocial) aspects should be taken into consideration when evaluating and managing such complaints in this workforce.

Pervasive Listeria monocytogenes Is Common in the Norwegian Food System and Is Associated with Increased Prevalence of Stress Survival and Resistance Determinants.

To investigate the diversity, distribution, persistence, and prevalence of stress survival and resistance genes of Listeria monocytogenes clones dominating in food processing environments in Norway, genome sequences from 769 L. monocytogenes isolates from food industry environments, foods, and raw materials (512 of which were sequenced in the present study) were subjected to whole-genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST), single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and comparative genomic analyses. The data set comprised isolates from nine meat and six salmon processing facilities in Norway collected over a period of three decades. The most prevalent clonal complex (CC) was CC121, found in 10 factories, followed by CC7, CC8, and CC9, found in 7 factories each. Overall, 72% of the isolates were classified as persistent, showing 20 or fewer wgMLST allelic differences toward an isolate found in the same factory in a different calendar year. Moreover, over half of the isolates (56%) showed this level of genetic similarity toward an isolate collected from a different food processing facility. These were designated as pervasive strains, defined as clusters with the same level of genetic similarity as persistent strains but isolated from different factories. The prevalence of genetic determinants associated with increased survival in food processing environments, including heavy metal and biocide resistance determinants, stress response genes, and inlA truncation mutations, showed a highly significant increase among pervasive isolates but not among persistent isolates. Furthermore, these genes were significantly more prevalent among the isolates from food processing environments compared to in isolates from natural and rural environments (n = 218) and clinical isolates (n = 111) from Norway. IMPORTANCE Listeria monocytogenes can persist in food processing environments for months to decades and spread through the food system by, e.g., contaminated raw materials. Knowledge of the distribution and diversity of L. monocytogenes is important in outbreak investigations and is essential to effectively track and control this pathogen in the food system. The present study presents a comprehensive overview of the prevalence of persistent clones and of the diversity of L. monocytogenes in Norwegian food processing facilities. The results demonstrate extensive spread of highly similar strains throughout the Norwegian food system, in that 56% of the 769 collected isolates from food processing factories belonged to clusters of L. monocytogenes identified in more than one facility. These strains were associated with an overall increase in the prevalence of plasmids and determinants of heavy metal and biocide resistance, as well as other genetic elements associated with stress survival mechanisms and persistence.

Targeted policy intervention for reducing red meat consumption: conflicts and trade-offs.

BACKGROUND: There are a range of policies and guidelines focused on meat consumption which aim to tackle health and environmental issues. Policies are often siloed in nature and propose universal limits on consumption. Despite this, there will be a number of conflicts and trade-offs between interest groups. This study explores secondary impacts associated with guidelines issued by the World Cancer Research Fund and assesses the utility of a targeted policy intervention strategy for reducing red meat consumption. METHODS: We used highly detailed consumption data of over 5,000 individuals from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. We firstly compared individual consumption against the policy guidelines to identify demographic groups most likely to consume above recommended levels. We then synthetically modified the food diary data to investigate the secondary impacts of adherence to the recommendations by all individuals. We assessed changes in overall consumption, nutrient intake (iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin B3, fat and saturated fat) and global warming potential. We also projected future impacts under various population projections. RESULTS: We found that certain demographic groups are much more likely to exceed the recommendations and would therefore benefit from a targeted intervention approach. Our results provide a baseline for which the impacts of any meat substitute diets can be assessed against. Whilst secondary health benefits may be realised by reducing intake of certain nutrients (e.g. fats), negative impacts may occur due to the reduced intake of other nutrients (e.g. iron, zinc). Reduced overall consumption is likely to have implications for the wider meat industry whilst complementary impacts would occur in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Impacts will be counteracted or maybe even reversed by any substitute products, highlighting the need to carefully consider the suitability and impacts of meat-replacements. CONCLUSION: The future structure of the meat industry will depend on how conflicts and trade-offs are addressed and how more holistic policy ideas are implemented. This research provides a framework for using demographic and consumption data to reduce negative trade-offs and improve policy effectiveness.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices of the community and meat industry workers towards Taenia saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis in and around Jimma and Ambo towns of Ethiopia.

Taenia saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis are prevalent in Ethiopia, however, data on the knowledge/attitude, and practice (KAP) of the community and meat industry workers in this regard is scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the KAP of the community and meat industry workers about T. saginata taeniosis/cysticercosis in Jimma and Ambo towns of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional KAP survey was performed on 293 community members selected using multistage random sampling and 97 meat industry workers from the two study towns. A questionnaire was constructed to collect sociodemographic variables, knowledge/attitudes about taeniosis/cysticercosis, raw meat consumption, latrine usage, and taeniosis treatment practices. Mixed effect (generalized) linear models were used to assess the association of self-reported taeniosis as well as the KAP scores with the demographic variables. The predicted proportion of self-reported taeniosis was 54% and 75% for Jimma and 44% and 70% for Ambo community and meat industry workers, respectively. The odds of self-reported taeniosis was higher for men (ORadj, 1.68, 95%CI, 0.97-2.93), and elementary/illiterate (ORadj, 1.46, 95%CI, 0.75-2.86) and high school education level (ORadj, 2.65, 95%CI, 1.45-4.93) compared to their counterparts. Most of the community members and the vast majority of the meat industry workers were knowledgeable about taeniosis but less conscious about cysticercosis. The knowledge/attitude score of the community was positively associated with the Jimma community (ßadj= 1.20, 95%CI 0.60-1.80), age (ßadj=0.03 points higher per year, 95%CI 0.00- 0.04), and men (ßadj = 1.20, 95%CI 0.64-1.76), while it was lower in elementary education/illiterate (ßadj = -1.60, 95%CI -2.31 to -0.95) and secondary/high school (ßadj = -0.83, 95%CI -1.46 to -0.23). The good practice scores of the community within both towns were negatively associated with increasing age (ßadj=-0.01 per year, 95%CI, -0.02 to 0.00), elementary/illiterate (ßadj = -0.60, 95%CI -1.01 to -0.19) and secondary/high school education (ßadj = -0.09, 95%CI -0.45 to -0.28), and urban community (ßadj = -0.47 95%CI, -0.82 to -0.12), while protestant/other (ßadj = 0.76, 95%CI 0.36 1.16) religion had higher scores compared to Orthodox religion. In conclusion, the predicted self-reported taeniosis proportion was moderately high, and the knowledge/attitude was substantial whereas, the practice was inferior. The association between the knowledge/attitude score and practice score was very weak. Therefore, public education to improve hygienic practices, risky culinary habits, taeniosis treatment, and backyard slaughtering were suggested.

Distribution of bovine cysticercosis prevalence in the southeastern districts of Botswana from 2015 to 2016.

Background and Aim: Bovine cysticercosis is defined as a foodborne parasitic zoonotic disease of cattle caused by the larval stage of the human tapeworm Taenia saginata. In Botswana, bovine cysticercosis has inflicted major economic consequences on the beef industry due to downgrading, condemnation, or treatment of infected carcasses. Thus, in this study, we aim to (1) estimate the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in Botswana's southeastern districts, (2) describe the distribution of bovine cysticercosis through geospatial mapping, and (3) investigate the effect of seasonality on bovine cysticercosis occurrence. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using abattoir records of cattle slaughtered from August 2015 to July 2016. In total, 13 licensed non-export abattoirs were selected for this study, wherein 26,827 cattle were slaughtered during this period. Detection of cysticerci from the carcass and offal was carried out by meat inspectors visually during meat inspection. Prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was calculated for the extension areas and veterinary districts for each month and form there used to establish its distribution and seasonality. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in the southeastern districts of Botswana during this study period was determined to be 6.2%. The prevalence in the veterinary districts differed significantly at p<=0.000. Seasonality did not have a significant (p=0.651) effect on the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis. Geospatially, areas with greater than 8% prevalence were mainly located in the southernmost part of the study area. Conclusion: The prevalence of bovine cysticercosis was 6.2% during the study period. No previous studies on cysticerci prevalence in the study area was conducted; thus, it was not possible to determine whether there has been an increase or decrease in terms of prevalence rate. Therefore, the results of this study can be used as a baseline for the prevalence of cysticerci in the study area.

Material flow cost accounting (MFCA) to enhance environmental entrepreneurship in the meat sector: Challenges and opportunities.

The material flow cost accounting (MFCA) is one of the most broadly standardized tools accepted in environmental, social and economic research, which traces and quantifies material flows and stock in physical and economic units. Although its application has been recently developed in the field of resource and waste management, few academic articles have investigated its value towards food waste management, which represents a topical concern on a global scale. The present research applies the MFCA to investigate the material, energetic and economic costs associated with the Italian beef, pork and poultry production, exploring related challenges and opportunities towards the enhancement of the environmental entrepreneurship in the meat sector. The present countryside analysis is based on literature and empirical data collected during the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the need to improve knowledge on food waste issue under the economic perspective and its dual impact: when it is generated, in terms of income losses due to by-products and finished products sales failure, and when it is disposed, in terms of disposal costs sustained by farms, processing plants and distribution and sales centers. It is estimated that more than 0.45-0.50 Mt of fresh meat is wasted along the entire Italian agri-food chain, equal to more than 242-268 million euros, to which additional energy and water losses should be added (435-481 million euros). MFCA results are useful for business decisions, highlighting quantities, qualities and costs otherwise not considered in common financial reports.

Factores de riesgo biomecánico lumbar por manejo manual de cargas en el reparto de productos cárnicos / Lumbar biomechanical risk factors due to manual handling of loads in the distribution of meat products

Introducción: Identificar los factores de riesgo de trastornos musculoesqueléticos (TME) lumbares asociados al manejo manual (MMC) de productos cárnicos en las actividades de carga y descarga de camiones. Método: Estudio observacional descriptivo transversal con enfoque mixto, basado en el análisis ergonómico de la actividad de trabajo. Participaron los 4 trabajadores de los puestos de cargador y cargador-conductor. Se realizaron análisis cinemáticos y dinamométricos para determinar las fuerzas de compresión y cizallamiento y el riesgo biomecánico musculoesquelético en la zona lumbar. Se realizaron entrevistas y observaciones para analizar tareas y determinar los tiempos involucrados en cada operación, tipo de exposición y los determinantes de la actividad de trabajo. Resultados: El contexto de trabajo es sumamente variable durante la carga y descarga del camión, considerando la variabilidad en cada punto de entrega las características de los estacionamientos, las condiciones climáticas, la presencia de animales y otros obstáculos durante el transporte manual de la carga. El MMC produce fuerzas sobre los 4000 N de compresión discal en los niveles L4-L5 y L5-S1, las fuerzas iniciales de empuje y arrastre fueron de 51.2 kg*f y 27.3 kg*f respectivamente, lo que evidencia el riesgo de TME. La actividad de trabajo está determinada por el tipo de jornada, la organización del reparto y la falta de medios mecánicos de apoyo para la carga y descarga de los camiones. Conclusiones: Las tareas de MMC en esta industria son físicamente muy exigentes y mejorar estas condiciones de trabajo representa un desafío importante para la prevención (AU)

Introduction: Identify risk factors for lumbar musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) associated with manual handling (MHL) of meat products in truck loading and unloading activities. Method: Cross-sectional descriptive observational study with a mixed approach, based on ergonomic analysis of work activity. The 4 workers from the loader and loader-driver positions participated. Kinematic and dynamometric analyzes were performed to determine compression and shear forces and musculoskeletal risk in the lumbar area. Interviews and observations were conducted to analyze tasks and determine the times involved in each operation, type of exposure and the determinants of work activity. Results: The work context is highly variable during the loading and unloading of the truck, considering the variability at each delivery point the characteristics of the parking lots, weather conditions, the presence of animals and other obstacles during manual transport of the load. The MHL produces forces over 4000 N of disc compression at levels L4-L5 and L5-S1, the initial push and pull forces were 51.2 kg*f and 27.3 kg*f respectively, which shows the risk of MSD. The work activity is determined by the type of working day, the organization of the distribution and the lack of mechanical means to support the loading and unloading of trucks. Conclusions: The manual handling tasks in this industry are physically very demanding and improving these working conditions represents a significant challenge for prevention (AU)

[COVID-19 outbreaks in occupational settings in Spain, one year of follow-up (June 2020-June 2021).] / Brotes de COVID-19 en el ámbito laboral en España, un año de seguimiento (junio 2020-junio 2021).

COVID-19 outbreak surveillance in Spain was established with the main objective of characterizing outbreaks and the settings in which they occurred, in order to identify those population groups at highest risk to support them with the implementation of preventive and control measures. Between June 2020 and June 2021, 55,824 outbreaks were reported, with 414,882 cases in all settings. About 12.5% were reported in an occupational setting and within this, most of them were identified in the industry and building sectors. The outbreaks that had a greater impact were those that took place both in agriculture and in the meat industry, where there is a higher risk of exposure due to living and working conditions. Outbreaks in the catering and home care sectors were also frequent. Since the beginning, there was coordination between all stakeholders involved in the management of the pandemic, in order to implement prevention and control measures, as well as social protection measures. In addition, special actions were implemented in the most vulnerable sectors. Despite the work carried out, the presence of outbreaks in these sectors continues, although they are smaller than the previous pandemic phase. Due to this, there is needed to continue strengthening the inter-sectoral coordination structures and mechanisms to ensure the implementation of those measures that contribute to the containment of the pandemic.

La vigilancia de brotes COVID-19 en España se estableció con el objetivo de caracterizar los brotes y los ámbitos en los que ocurrían, con el propósito de identificar aquellos grupos de población con mayor riesgo para apoyar la toma de medidas de prevención y control. Entre junio de 2020 y junio de 2021 se comunicaron 55.824 brotes con 414.882 casos en todos los ámbitos. Alrededor del 12,5% de brotes y casos asociados fueron comunicados en el ámbito laboral y dentro de éste, la mayoría se identificó en los sectores de la industria y construcción, si bien, entre los brotes que han tenido un mayor impacto se encuentran aquellos producidos en el sector agrícola y en la industria de la carne, donde existe un mayor riesgo de exposición debido a las condiciones de vida y trabajo. También destacaron los brotes en el sector de la restauración y hostelería, y cuidados a domicilio. Desde el inicio hubo una coordinación entre las administraciones implicadas en la gestión de la pandemia para poner en marcha las medidas de prevención y control, así como las de protección social. Además, se llevaron a cabo medidas especiales en sectores de mayor vulnerabilidad. A pesar del trabajo realizado, los brotes en estos sectores continúan ocurriendo, si bien son de menor tamaño, por lo que se deben continuar fortaleciendo las estructuras y mecanismos de coordinación intersectoriales para la aplicación de las medidas que contribuyen además de la contención de la pandemia, a mantener activo el tejido productivo.

Measurement of Antioxidant Capacity of Meat and Meat Products: Methods and Applications.

At present, a wide variety of analytical methods is available to measure antioxidant capacity. However, this great diversity is not reflected in the analysis of meat and meat products, as there are a limited number of studies on determining this parameter in this complex food matrix. Despite this, and due to the interest in antioxidants that prevent oxidation reactions, the identification of antioxidants in meat and meat products is of special importance to the meat industry. For this reason, this review compiled the main antioxidant capacity assays employed in meat and meat products, to date, describing their foundations, and showing both their advantages and limitations. This review also looked at the different applications of antioxidant properties in meat and meat products. In this sense, the suitability of using these methodologies has been demonstrated in different investigations related to these foods.

Telephone Survey Versus Panel Survey Samples Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior Regarding Animal Welfare in the Red Meat Industry in Australia.

Surveys are used extensively in social research and, despite a lack of conclusive evidence of their 'representativeness,' probability internet panel (PIP) surveys are being increasingly used to make inferences about knowledge, attitude and behavior in the general population regarding a range of socially relevant issues. A large-scale survey of Australian public attitudes and behavior toward the red meat industry was undertaken. Samples were obtained using a random digit dialing telephone survey (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing-CATI, n = 502 respondents) and a PIP survey (PANEL, n = 530 respondents) to examine differences between the two samples regarding attitudes and behavior relating to livestock use and welfare. There was little difference in demographics between the CATI and the PANEL surveys apart from highest level of education. However, there were differences between the two samples in both attitudes and behavior toward the red meat industry after controlling for education levels. The PANEL respondents gave generally more conservative responses than did the CATI respondents in the sense that they were more positive toward the livestock industries and animal welfare within these industries. Differences were also found between the respondents of the two samples regarding behavior that relates to the red meat industry, both community and consumer behavior. PANEL respondents were less engaged in community behaviors performed in opposition of the red meat industry when compared with the CATI sample. The majority of CATI and PANEL respondents were red meat eaters and there was no difference between respondents of the two samples in relation to red meat consumption, however, there were fewer vegetarians and vegans in the PANEL survey. Possible reasons for the observed differences are discussed, however, a definitive answer will depend on further research to identify the specific psychological factors that differ between samples derived from different survey methodologies.

[The fragmentation of occupational health and safety in the meat industry through contracts to produce a work (Werkverträge) - and the need for an integrated occupational health and safety strategy]. / Zerlegung des Arbeitsschutzes in der Fleischindustrie durch Werkverträge ­ und die Notwendigkeit integrativen Arbeitsschutzes.

The devastating working conditions in the meat industry have not only been known since the Corona pandemic, but this spring slaughterhouses in particular proved to be hotspots of the Sars-CoV-2 spread. In the summer of this year, the Federal Government presented a draft for an occupational health and safety control law. Among other things, the bill provides for a ban on the use of contracts to produce a work (Werkverträge) and temporary agency work in the core area of the meat industry from 1 January and 1 April 2021 respectively.This article traces the omissions of recent years and shows why, in third-party employment constellations, the important inter-company cooperation in occupational health and safety cannot represent a model for success in the meat industry, since in the meat industry the contracting companies are neither able nor willing to assert themselves with regard to occupational health and safety. The article highlights why the proprietor's organisational obligations are crucial for compliance with national and EU occupational health and safety law as well as food hygiene regulations, and must ultimately be monitored by the occupational health and safety inspectorates. The contribution supports the objectives of the bill, but at the time of the editorial deadline (16.11.2020) it is still uncertain whether the Bundestag will pass the law without substantial deterioration.