One of the greatest challenges facing the meat and poultry industry is how best to supply safe and nourishing produce as the global population continues to rise. A number of factors including industrial farming methods and more complex supply chains have led to a sharp increase in high-profile contamination cases. This is proving an expensive and serious health risk for consumers and manufacturers alike.
To put the issue of contamination in the food sector into context, last year, more than 13 million pounds of ground beef alone were recalled in 31 separate instances, more than 12 million pounds of which were due to Salmonella contamination. Most recently, the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention released a statement reporting eight people were hospitalized and one died because of an outbreak of Salmonella in ground beef.