Central nervous system tissue detection in meat from advanced meat recovery systems

Three hundred meat samples, recovered from beef neck- and breast-bones using a conventional advanced meat recovery (AMR) system, the de-sinewed minced meat (DMM10) technology, and hand-boning, were collected and tested for presence of central nervous system tissue (CNST) in meat using an ELISA-based test. Samples were collected at two processing facilities (Est. A and B). Sternum meat was the non-CNST reference (control) – it is distant from brain and spinal cord locations on a carcass, with low likelihood of contamination with CNST. Neckbone meat was recovered from bones obtained from carcasses where the spinal cord was removed manually, Est. B, or using a Jarvis circular hydraulic cord remover saw, Est. A. All samples from AMR, DMM, and hand methods showed lower calculated levels of “risk material” than the stated limit of detection (0.1%) of ELISA kit. There was no apparent difference among these, and use of the Jarvis saw had no perceptible advantage.