Richard Mitchell

Tech | Processing

Battle versus bacteria heats up

Bacteriophages are providing more firepower for meat and poultry processors in the battle against microbials.

September 3, 2020

In the ongoing war against pathogens in meat and poultry plants, bacteriophages are becoming a potentially potent weapon.

Food Safety

How to keep traceability on track

Technology developers and program operators must make a compelling case for traceability if systems are to become omnipresent.

Richard Mitchell

March 4, 2020

Widespread traceability in the meat and poultry sector appears to be a concept whose time has come.

X-ray Machine for Foreign Material Inspection in Food

Food Safety

Foreign-object contamination in meat and poultry

Foreign affairs: Processors must leverage appropriate technologies, inspections and training programs to minimize product contamination from foreign objects.

Richard Mitchell

May 3, 2019

The threat of foreign-object contamination in meat and poultry is becoming more prominent.

Meat and Poultry Employee Hygiene Practices Include Wearing Gloves

Food Safety

Employee hygiene is the key to meat and poultry safety

High on hygiene: Employee buy-in on hygienic measures is critical for minimizing the spread of pathogens in meat and poultry plants.

Richard Mitchell

July 13, 2018

Workers hold the key to meat and poultry safety. The inability of plant employees to follow such hygienic practices as proper hand washing and wearing sanitized personal protective equipment can lead to contamination, the spread of foodborne illness, reduction in product shelf life and product recalls.

Food Safety

Preventing foreign-material contamination in meat and poultry processing

A 'fine' job: Foreign-material contamination can have a devastating effect on meat and poultry merchandising, but newer and more sophisticated technologies are enhancing food safety.

Richard Mitchell

May 10, 2018

There is perhaps nothing as crucial in the processing of meat and poultry as safeguarding proteins from foreign objects.

Meat/Poultry Plant Worker Sanitizes Equipment with Chemicals

Food Safety

Ensuring safe chemical handling for meat and poultry sanitation workers

How to avoid a chemical calamity: The safety of workers who clean and sanitize meat and poultry facilities and equipment is highly dependent on the training they receive in the handling and use of chemicals.

Richard Mitchell

April 24, 2018

With many workers using potentially dangerous chemicals to sanitize facilities and machinery, the prospect of sickness or injury looms.

Food Safety Report | Apparel

Food safety apparel in meat and poultry plants: Suit up for safety

Appropriate food safety apparel in meat and poultry plants can minimize cross-contamination threats, but attaining full compliance can be challenging.

Richard Mitchell

March 26, 2018

With meat and poultry producers and supermarket meat department operators determined to protect proteins from pathogens and other contaminants, garment suppliers look to develop more effective designs.

Food Safety

Without traceability, U.S. beef could be left out in the cold

The lack of a national traceability system could lead to competitive and financial hardships for domestic meat producers.

Richard Mitchell

February 19, 2018

The U.S. is an outlier in the move by major meat-producing countries to create systems that track meat back to its source. Unlike many other nations, the U.S. has no mandatory national traceability guidelines for domestic producers.

High-pressure processing (HPP) Sealed Meat

Post-processing Pasteurization: Pressing innovation

Leveraging post-processing pasteurization technologies and methodologies is vital if meat and poultry processors are to eradicate the threat of pathogens throughout the production cycle.

Richard Mitchell

August 9, 2017

To reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, it is crucial that meat and poultry processors focus on food safety throughout the operational cycle, and that includes the pivotal post-processing pasteurization stage.

Detection devices are strong preventative tools, but do not eliminate all incidents of foreign-object contamination

Foreign-object contamination: Under the radar

Despite the advances in X-ray and metal detection systems, keeping meat and poultry totally free of foreign objects remains an ongoing processor challenge.

Richard Mitchell

May 2, 2017

Technology is not the end-all when it comes to safeguarding meat and poultry from foreign-object contamination.