Older plants and equipment that still function well often pose significant, continual challenges for operators seeking to meet sanitation requirements.
While many factors including high employee attrition rates affect the eradication of contaminants, perhaps the biggest obstacle is the abundance of plants and equipment that were built years ago with fewer food safety-related features now common to newer designs.
As the prominence of meat and poultry with marinades increases, the importance of leveraging the most efficient operating technologies becomes crucial.
Conveyors go a long way in enhancing worker welfare and reducing inefficiencies in meat and poultry plants, but they also are sources of potential food safety risks.
Employing workers who have the competency to produce high-quality quality meat and poultry in an efficient and safe manner is a foremost aim of protein plant operators.
More shoppers are purchasing a wider variety of proteins and cuts for their holiday dinners as they aim to make the meals less cumbersome and more dynamic.
While turkey remains the dominant center of the plate protein for Thanksgiving, consumption of such alternatives as pork, lamb, beef and chicken are on the upswing as more consumers seek variety, novelty and affordability when preparing for seasonal gatherings.
With such factors as price, convenience, wellness and sustainability on their minds, more consumers are seeking precise varieties of proteins, including packages with specific portions.
For pasteurizing product, processors have a variety of options on the rise, but thermal processing remains entrenched as the proven option for many companies.
Although a slew of systems are taking shape and likely to become more active or launch in the coming years, thermal processing still is the dominant pasteurization method for enhancing food safety in meat and poultry.
Demand for cooked meat and poultry is on the upswing and preparation technologies are efficient, but generating mainstream acceptance of additional products remains a challenge.