New imaging technology detects trace fecal contamination
An imaging technology under development as part of a partnership between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and eMerge Interactive, Inc. of Sebastion, Fla., has shown in recent trials that it can detect trace levels of fecal contamination on beef carcasses.
The new system is a real-time, electronically controlled optical instrument that creates images of carcasses and displays them on a nearby monitor, according to Al Gapsch, vice president of research and development for eMerge. Trials conducted last summer at Oklahoma State University and University of Florida indicated that trace levels of fecal contamination invisible to the naked eye could be easily seen in these images, providing workers with a detailed map of areas requiring trimming - as well as contamination-free areas that can be preserved. The prototype was also successful in evaluating fecal decontamination on car-casses subjected to levels high-temperature steam from steam vacuums or steam cabinets - technologies commonly used for microbial intervention in the beef industry.