M03029: Audit of effective removal of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) from carcasses
Thursday 9 October 2003
This research project aims to determine the extent of DRG contamination of meat and whether any new butchery practices need to be developed.
Background
The amount of DRG present in edible meat is considered to be low. However, this study aims to confirm the location of DRG within the carcass with the current butchery practices used. The current industry butchery procedures will be audited in order to ascertain, as far as practically possible, how effectively DRG are removed from meat before it is sold to the final consumer.
Research Approach
The location of DRG within the carcass will be confirmed by dissection of a sample of carcasses/cuts. Then the current butchery practices will be audited in order to ascertain as far as is practically possible how effectively DRG are removed from meat before sale to the final consumer. In order to do this visits will be made to small, medium and large throughput boning plants, multiple and independent retailers and catering butchers. The audit will be designed and undertaken in a structured manner that ensures that consideration is given to variations in boning procedures, speed of operation and type of end product. Once this audit has been completed, it will determine whether any amended or new butchery practices need to be developed. If they are, protocols for new/amended butchery practices will be developed and then tested and verified under commercial operating conditions. This project will also consider new developments in dressing/ boning practices including an oval saw, developed to remove the spinal column intact, and will evaluate the potential of the saw to remove DRG.