Food > Meat and Poultry Products > Manual of Procedures > Chapter 4
Chapter 4 Annex F
LOT SAMPLING AND INSPECTION/EXAMINATION PROCEDURES FOR FRESH
MEAT
1. Raw meat products other than poultry
1.1 Sampling
The number of sample units required is determined using the
sampling plans provided. These sampling plans are based on 5.5 kg units.
Once the number of sample units has been determined, a random
selection of the samples is made by the inspector or plant employee. (For random sampling procedures,
see 10.3.6(9)).
Only 1 sample per box should be selected. When dealing with
product in combo bins, the required number of 5.5 kg sample units are to be withdrawn from at least 25% of
the total number of combo bins in the shipment.
It should be noted that some of the sampling plans indicate
steps A and B. In making the initial sample selection, step A is used. The inspection findings will
determine if step B is to be used.
1.2 Inspection Procedures
- boneless meat, should be carefully examined for the presence
of pathological conditions such as abscesses, etc., spoilage, contamination with ingesta, faecal
material, hair, grease, rail dirt, foreign material, presence of spear-grass, blood clots, pieces of hide,
and bone or cartilage (gristle) pieces. Cuts should be checked for correct stamping, if appropriate.
- The plant employee or inspector will examine/inspect the
product thoroughly and classify defects found according to the appropriate defect criteria table.
1.3 Disposition
A decision to accept or reject is made on the defects found. One
or more critical defects means the shipment is rejected. With respect to major and minor defects,
the decision criteria given in the sample tables are to be used.
If upon completing inspection on the basis of Step A, the lot
can be clearly accepted or rejected no further sampling and examination/inspection is required. If the number
of major defects or the total number of defects (minor alone or combination of major and minor) falls
between the accept and reject numbers, a second sampling and examination/inspection as per step B is
done. The defects found are added to those found at Step A and the total numbers are then used to accept or
reject the lot.
Note: Total defects are only used if the reject level for major
defects has not been exceeded.
1.4 Sampling plan and decision criteria
| PLAN NO. | SHIPMENT SIZE (kilos) |
STEP NO. | NO. SAMPLE UNITS SELECTED AND EXAMINED |
NO. DEFECTS FOUND AND ACTION TO BE TAKEN |
|---|
| MAJOR | TOTAL (major & minor) |
|---|
| ACCEPT | REJECT | ACCEPT | REJECT |
|---|
| 1. | 454 or less | A | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
2 |
| 2. | 3629 or less | A | 6 | 0 | 1 |
5 | 6 |
| 3. | 3630 to 10885
| A
B | 9
3 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
8 |
| | Total of A + B | |
12 | 1 | 2 |
8 | 9 |
| 4. | 10886 to 27271
| A
B | 15
15 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
12 |
| | Total of A + B | |
30 | 2 | 3 |
18 | 19 |
| 5. | 27272 to 108861
| A
B | 22
25 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
16 |
| | Total of A + B | |
47 | 3 | 3 |
26 | 27 |
| 6. | 108862 and over
| A
B | 27
40 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
19 |
| | Total of A + B | |
67 | 4 | 5 |
35 | 36 |
1.5 Examples
(a) Lot weighing 18,144 kg, packed in 27 kg boxes.
Sampling plan 4 is selected, which means that 15 boxes are to be
randomly chosen and a 5.5 kg sample examined from each box.
Findings are as follows:
- critical = 0
- major = 3
- minor = 3
- total = 6
The lot is rejected on the basis of 3 major defects, even though
the total number of defects is acceptable.
(b) Lot weighing 9,999 kg, packed in 9 kg boxes.
Sampling plan 3 is selected which means that 9. 5.5 kg sample
units are required from 9 different boxes.
Findings are as follows:
- critical = 0
- major = 1
- minor = 3
- total = 4
The lot can not therefore be accepted or rejected at this point
since the number of major defects lies
between 0 and 2. Step B is therefore followed, which means that
another 3 units must be selected.
- Findings are as follows:
- critical = 0
- major = 0
- minor = 4
- total = 4
These defects are added to those found at step A giving totals
as follows:
- critical = 0
- major = 1
- minor = 7
- total = 8
The lot is accepted.
1.6 DEFECT CRITERIA FOR MEAT FROM CATTLE AND CALVES
| DEFECT | MINOR | MAJOR
| CRITICAL |
|---|
| BLOOD CLOTS | 40 - 150 mm (GD) |
>150 mm (GD); or
>5 minor clots *
| Any clot(s) that would seriously affect product use |
| BRUISES | 25 - 60 mm (GD) or
13 - 25 mm deep | >60 mm (GD); or
>25 mm deep; or
> 5 minor bruises * | Any bruises that would seriously affect product use |
| BONE FRAGMENTS | Hard bone <40 mm (GD);
bone slivers (from rib) <75 mm x 6 mm | >40 mm (GD); or
> 5 minor fragments * | Any fragment(s) that would seriously affect product use |
| DETACHED CARTILAGE LIGAMENTS | >25 mm long and free from muscle tissue |
>5 minor defects that would not seriously affect product use |
Any cartilage or ligament that would seriously affect product use |
| INGESTA | | |
Any amount |
| FAECAL MATERIAL | | |
Any amount |
| HARMFUL EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL | |
Any substance that would cause minor tissue irritation |
Any substance that would cause injury or illness |
| HARMLESS EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL | Paper or plastic <45 cm²;
specks of rail dust covering an area <10 mm (GD); or single grass seeds (not associated with inflammation) |
Blunt wood>24 mm (GD); paper or plastic >45 cm²; or specks of rail dust covering an area >10 mm (GD);
small insect; >5 minor defects that would not seriously affect product use |
Large insect; insect associated with unsanitary conditions; any substance that would seriously affect product use |
| HAIR, WOOL, HIDE | Hide <10 mm (GD); 5 - 10 strands of hair or wool. The number of minor defects is derived by dividing the number of hairs by 10. Hair cluster in single area |
Hide >10 mm (GD); or >25 strands of hair or wool; or >5 clusters of hair provided not affecting product usability * |
Hair, hide or wool that seriously affect product use
- 100 single strands of hair in one sample unit
|
| OFF CONDITION (sour) | |
| Any amount of off condition meat |
| PATHOLOGICAL LESIONS | |
Any lesion which would not have been evident at PM inspection that would not seriously affect product use |
Any other lesion(s) |
| STAINS, DISCOLOURED AREAS | 10 - 40 mm (GD) |
>40 mm (GD)
>5 minor stains * | Stains that would seriously affect product use |
OTHER
i.e. Freezer burn | Defect(s) that would affect product appearance but not use |
Defect(s) that would materially affect product use |
Defect(s) that would seriously affect product use |
(GD means Greatest Dimension: > means Greater Than; < means Less
Than)
* Where minor defects are numerous enough to classify as major,
do not score as minor also.
1.6 (cont'd) DEFECT CRITERIA FOR MEAT FROM SHEEP, LAMB, GOAT AND EQUINE
| DEFECT | MINOR | MAJOR
| CRITICAL |
|---|
| BLOOD CLOTS | 40 - 150 mm (GD) |
>150 mm (GD); or
>5 minor clots * | Any clot(s) that would seriously affect product use |
| BRUISES | 25 - 60 mm (GD) or
13 - 25 mm deep | >60 mm (GD); or
>25 mm deep; or
> 5 minor bruises * | Any bruises that would seriously affect product use |
| BONE FRAGMENTS | Hard bone <40 mm (GD);
bone slivers (from rib) <75mm x 6 mm | >40 mm (GD); or
> 5 minor fragments * | Any fragment(s) that would seriously affect product use |
| DETACHED CARTILAGE LIGAMENTS | >25 mm long and free from muscle tissue |
>5 minor defects that would not seriously affect product use |
Any cartilage or ligament that would seriously affect product use |
| INGESTA | | <
10 mm (GD) | > 10 mm (GD) |
| FAECAL MATERIAL | | |
Any amount |
| HARMFUL EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL | |
Any substance that would cause minor tissue irritation |
Any substance that would cause injury or illness |
| HARMLESS EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL | Paper or plastic <45 cm²;
specks of rail dust covering an area <10 mm (GD); or single grass seeds (not associated with inflammation) |
Blunt wood>24 mm (GD); paper or plastic >45 cm²; or specks of rail dust covering an area >10 mm (GD);
small insect; >5 minor defects that would not seriously affect product use |
Large insect; insect associated with unsanitary conditions; any substance that would seriously affect product use |
| HAIR, WOOL, HIDE | Hide <10 mm (GD); 5 - 10 strands of hair or wool. The number of minor defects is derived by dividing the number of hairs by 10. Hair cluster in single area |
Hide >10 mm (GD); or >25 strands of hair or wool; or >5 clusters of hair provided not affecting product usability * |
Hair, hide or wool that seriously affect product use
- 100 single strands of hair in one sample unit
|
| OFF CONDITION (sour) | |
| Any amount of off condition meat |
| PATHOLOGICAL LESIONS | |
Any lesion which would not have been evident at PM inspection that would not seriously affect product use |
Any other lesion(s) |
| STAINS, DISCOLOURED AREAS | 10 - 40 mm (GD) |
>40 mm (GD)
>5 minor stains * | Stains that would seriously affect product use |
OTHER
i.e. Freezer burn | Defect(s) that would affect product appearance but not use |
Defect(s) that would materially affect product use |
Defect(s) that would seriously affect product use |
(GD means Greatest Dimension: > means Greater Than; < means Less
Than)
* Where minor defects are numerous enough to classify as major,
do not score as minor also.
1.7 DEFECT CRITERIA FOR MEAT FROM SWINE
| DEFECT | MINOR | MAJOR
| CRITICAL |
|---|
| BLOOD CLOTS | 40 - 150 mm (GD) |
>150 mm (GD); or
>5 minor clots * | Any clot(s) that would seriously affect product use |
| BRUISES | 25 - 60 mm (GD) or
13 - 25 mm deep | >60 mm (GD); or
>25 mm deep; or
> 5 minor bruises * | Any bruises that would seriously affect product use |
| BONE FRAGMENTS | Hard bone <40 mm (GD);
bone slivers (from rib) <75mm x 6 mm | >40 mm (GD); or
> 5 minor fragments * | Any fragment(s) that would seriously affect product use |
| DETACHED CARTILAGE LIGAMENTS | >25 mm long and free from muscle tissue |
>5 minor defects that would not seriously affect product use |
Any cartilage or ligament that would seriously affect product use |
| INGESTA | | <
10 mm (GD) | > 10 mm (GD) |
| FAECAL MATERIAL | | |
Any amount |
| HARMFUL EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL | |
Any substance that would cause minor tissue irritation |
Any substance that would cause injury or illness |
| HARMLESS EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL | Paper or plastic <45 cm²;
specks of rail dust covering an area <10 mm (GD); or single grass seeds (not associated with inflammation) |
Blunt wood>24 mm (GD); paper or plastic >45 cm²; or specks of rail dust covering an area >10 mm (GD);
small insect; >5 minor defects that would not seriously affect product use |
Large insect; insect associated with unsanitary conditions; any substance that would seriously affect product use |
| SKIN (ON SKINLESS CUTS), HAIR, HAIR ROOTS |
Skin (on skinless cuts) <10 mm (GD);
Skin (on skinless cuts) with hair or visible hair roots <20 cm²;
1 defect =
- If <13 (strands of hair), Total # of hairs ÷ 3 and/or
- Total # of hair roots ÷ 1 and/or
- Clusters of hairs in single area.
|
Skin (on skinless cuts)>10 mm (GD);
Skin (on skinless cuts) with
- hair or visible hair roots >20 cm²; or
- >13 but <100 single strands of hair in one sample unit.
|
Skinless or skin on cuts:
- - skin, hair or hair roots seriously affecting product usability
- - 100 single strands of hair in one sample unit
|
| LIPS, EAR CANALS, TEETH, KIDNEYS, LIVER | |
Any amount for each sample unit | |
| LUNG TISSUE | | |
Any amount |
| OFF CONDITION (sour) | |
| Any amount of off condition meat |
| PATHOLOGICAL LESIONS | |
Any lesion which would not have been evident at PM inspection that would not seriously affect product use |
Any other lesion(s) |
| STAINS, DISCOLOURED AREAS | 10 - 40 mm (GD) |
>40 mm (GD)
>5 minor stains * | Stains that would seriously affect product use |
OTHER
i.e. Freezer burn | Defect(s) that would affect product appearance but not use |
Defect(s) that would materially affect product use |
Defect(s) that would seriously affect product use |
(GD means Greatest Dimension: > means Greater Than; < means Less
Than)
* Where minor defects are numerous enough to classify as major,
do not score as minor also.
2. POULTRY REINSPECTION PROGRAM FOR FRESH AND FROZEN POULTRY CARCASSES
AND PARTS
See chapter 19,
Annex E |
