Good slaughter hygiene and accurate meat inspection in slaughterhouses (SHs) should ensure the hygienic quality of broiler chicken (broiler) carcasses accepted as food and guarantee that broiler meat ...from the carcasses is safe and fit for human consumption. The purpose of our research was to 1) determine the visible hygienic quality of broiler carcasses by visual inspection, 2) compare the results between the large Finnish SHs, and 3) determine the effectivity of the post-mortem inspection (PMI). We additionally aimed to study whether the requirement to inspect the body cavities of all carcasses during the PMI has had any impact on the visible hygienic quality of broiler carcasses in the SHs. The study was divided into two parts. In study 1, one researcher (the first author) inspected 2200 carcasses after PMI in three SHs and detected that, depending on the SH, 0.7–3.6% of carcasses had faecal contamination, 0.4–2.0% had gastrointestinal (GI) tract parts, 0.1–3.6% had some other form of contamination or other inedible remnants, and 0.2–0.5% showed pathological or organoleptic changes. Study 1 was carried out 2019, before the inspection of the body cavities of all carcasses was in use in PMI in the SHs.
One SH had significantly higher prevalences of carcasses with faecal contamination (P < 0.001 &P = 0.002) and residual GI tract parts (P = 0.004 &P = 0.006) than the other two SHs. The visual inspection in study 2 was performed 2020–2022 after the inspection of the external surfaces of all carcass body cavities had been included in PMI or after it was as a part of an own-check system. Only one SH had lower prevalences of carcasses with faecal contamination and residual GI tract parts (P = 0.009 &P = 0.005, respectively) in study 2 than in study 1. In all SHs, faeces were mostly found within the body cavities in both studies highlighting the importance of carcass body cavity inspection. A zero level of faecal contamination was not achieved in any SH. Assessing the visible hygienic quality of carcasses enables to assess the differences between SHs in slaughter hygiene management, enabling the risk categorization of SHs, along with assessing the efficiency of PMI.
•Visible faecal contamination was mostly within carcass body cavities.•A zero level of faecal contamination was not achieved in any of the slaughterhouses.•Local inflammation or soiling on carcasses may go unnoticed during post-mortem inspection.•Body cavity inspection is essential to find contamination and remaining visceral parts.•Process hygiene differences between slaughterhouses can be verified by visual carcass inspection.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The comprehensive, reliable, and comparable meat inspection (MI) data of broiler chickens (i.e. broilers) are essential for the monitoring and surveillance of broiler health and welfare at the ...national and European Union (EU) levels. We compared the condemnation causes issued to broiler carcasses during MI in four large Finnish broiler slaughterhouses (SHs) by investigating the similarities and differences between local MI instructions used in the SHs. The way in which MI condemnations were recorded in the Finnish Food Authority's (FFA's) MI statistics were also explored. We additionally analysed the FFA's official MI data from the 2015–2019 period. The study showed that the MI criteria used in the SHs differed from one another regarding how severe or extensive a broiler defect or disease must be to cause condemnation during MI. In Finland, the annual total condemnation prevalence of whole broilers varied between 2.6% and 4.8% in 2015–2019, and a significant difference was observed between the SHs' monthly total condemnation prevalences, except in two SH pairs. Mistakes in recording the FFA's MI statistics and differences in the SH operators' reasons to reject broilers from the food chain affect the comparability of the condemnation prevalences between the SHs. Only half of the SHs partially condemned broiler carcasses and collected data concerning these condemnations. Cellulitis (0.3–1.0%), ascites (0.3–0.4%), and body cavity disorders (0.2–0.3%) were the most common causes for condemning whole broiler carcasses in 2015–2019. The MI data can be used for monitoring and surveillance purposes only once the differences between the SH data and data reliability are known. Although the harmonization of all condemnation causes is impossible, harmonizing the condemnations of carcasses with diseases that most threaten broiler health and welfare and cause the largest economic losses would be important.
•The uniformity of meat inspection data must be secured before using them as an information source.•Performing and recording meat inspection condemnations varied between the slaughterhouses.•Partial carcass condemnations in particular varied between slaughterhouses.•Ascites, cellulitis, and body cavity disorders were the most uniformly recorded condemnations.•Increasing rates of conditions affecting broiler welfare and health may go unnoticed in the official statistics.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Meat inspection of broiler chickens (broiler) in the European Union is regulated by common legislation to secure meat safety. However, the legislation is general in nature and proper post-mortem ...inspection (PMI) of every carcass and visceral organs of broilers is challenging in slaughterhouses (SHs) with a high slaughter line speed. The aim of this study was to investigate the on-site organization and possible differences of the PMI in four Finnish SHs, which slaughter over 99% of broilers in Finland. Our results show that the meat inspector's available inspection time per broiler in the PMI varied between 0.28 and 0.90 s, with the shortest available inspection time in the SH with the highest slaughter line speed and the longest available inspection time in the SH with the slowest line speed. We observed that only part of the total inspection time per broiler could be used for true PMI in most (3/4) SHs, as the meat inspectors also performed other tasks during the PMI. We observed deficiencies in the visual inspection of broiler carcasses; in particular, the proper inspection of all or most of the body cavities was impossible in all SHs during the PMI. Some deficiencies in facilities (e.g. in recording system) were observed. Moreover, lighting properties varied between the SHs and a significant difference between illumination conditions at the first inspection stations in the SHs was observed. This study considered the prerequisites for proper PMI and revealed that the PMI of broilers was not completely uniform in Finland. The results emphasize the need for more precise guidelines and recommendations, especially for inspection time and lighting at inspection stations.
•A short post-mortem inspection time may hamper detection of non-acceptable broilers.•Differences in facilities and lighting affected post-mortem inspection uniformity.•Measurements can be used to evaluate the uniformity of meat inspection stations.•The high line speed of slaughterhouses hinders proper inspection of body cavities.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Small-scale slaughterhouses (SHs) face many challenges, not least due to the requirements of food safety legislation. Food business operators' (FBOs') own-check system is very important for food ...safety, but its proper implementation can be quite difficult and laborious for small-scale SHs. In the European Union, the importance not only of food safety but also facilitation of local food production, including small-scale slaughtering, is highlighted. The aim of our study was to assess compliance with legislation of own-check systems, including six own-check programmes and HACCP, in small-scale SHs. The FBOs' opinions of the implementation of own-check systems were also sought to elucidate possible obstacles in implementation. Our results showed that the best compliance in own-check programmes was achieved in temperature of storage rooms and traceability. FBOs also evaluated these programmes as necessary. However, FBOs' perceived necessity of own-check programmes did not always lead to compliance, as was the case with labelling and HACCP. Instead, in HACCP laboriousness and compliance showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05). In addition to laboriousness, costs of own-check programmes, specifically concerning microbiological sampling requirements, appeared to influence compliance, with many of the small-scale SHs poorly following sampling requirements. FBOs also noted the high costs of the non-edible by-product programme. Moreover, the results show that official veterinarians’ assessment of compliance was significantly higher than that of the researcher, which warrants further investigation. This study reveals that many small-scale SHs in Finland struggle with food safety requirements. Amendments of some of the requirements to ease the burden of FBOs are proposed. HACCP in particular is suggested to be simplified. In addition, ways to improve food safety and official control in small-scale SHs are discussed.
•Small-scale slaughterhouses complied best with storage temperature and traceability.•Compliance was poorest in HACCP and control of product temperature.•HACCP should be simplified in small-scale slaughterhouses.•Microbiological sampling and by-product programmes inflicted the highest costs.•The perceived necessity of an own-check programme did not guarantee compliance.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A 59‐year‐old male patient developed a necrotizing ulceration on the right shin. Both clinical and histopathologic examinations suggested pyoderma gangrenosum. After temporary improvement of skin ...symptoms under peroral glucocorticoid treatment, a hemorrhagic‐purulent discharge started from the nose, he began to have fever, malaise, cough, and a chest X‐ray revealed inflammation in the lung. Cerebral CT and MRI disclosed midline bone loss within the nasal septum and granulomatosus tissue masses protruding into the right orbit. The c‐ANCA test was positive, serum IgA was elevated, and he had microhaematuria and proteinuria. In this severe case of Wegener's granulomatosis prolonged methylprednisone and cyclophosphamide treatment was initiated. Both the skin symptoms and the granulomatosus infiltrations resolved.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Body mass index (BMI) and mortality in old adults from the general population have been related in a U‐shaped or J‐shaped curve. However, limited information is available for elderly nursing home ...populations, particularly about specific cause of death. A systematic PubMed/EMBASE/CINAHL/SCOPUS search until 31 May 2014 without language restrictions was conducted. As no published study reported mortality in standard BMI groups (<18.5, 18.5–24.9, 25–29.9, ≥30 kg/m²), the most adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) according to a pre‐defined list of covariates were obtained from authors and pooled by random‐effect model across each BMI category. Out of 342 hits, 20 studies including 19,538 older nursing home residents with 5,223 deaths during a median of 2 years of follow‐up were meta‐analysed. Compared with normal weight, all‐cause mortality HRs were 1.41 (95% CI = 1.26–1.58) for underweight, 0.85 (95% CI = 0.73–0.99) for overweight and 0.74 (95% CI = 0.57–0.96) for obesity. Underweight was a risk factor for higher mortality caused by infections (HR = 1.65 95% CI = 1.13–2.40). RR results corroborated primary HR results, with additionally lower infection‐related mortality in overweight and obese than in normal‐weight individuals. Like in the general population, underweight is a risk factor for mortality in old nursing home residents. However, uniquely, not only overweight but also obesity is protective, which has relevant nutritional goal implications in this population/setting.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Plasmonic nanoarrays which support collective surface lattice resonances (SLRs) have become an exciting frontier in plasmonics. Compared with the localized surface-plasmon resonance in individual ...particles, these collective modes have appealing advantages such as angle-dependent dispersions and much narrower linewidths. Here, we investigate systematically how the geometry of the lattice affects the SLRs supported by metallic nanoparticles. We present a general theoretical framework from which the various SLR modes of a given geometry can be straightforwardly obtained by a simple comparison of the diffractive order vectors and orientation of the nanoparticle dipole given by the polarization of the incident field. Our experimental measurements show that while square, rectangular, hexagonal, honeycomb, and Lieb lattice arrays have similar spectra near the Γ point (k=0), they have remarkably different SLR dispersions. Furthermore, their dispersions are highly dependent on the polarization. Numerical simulations are performed to elucidate the field profiles of the different modes. Our findings extend the diversity of SLRs in plasmonic nanoparticle arrays, and the theoretical framework provides a simple model for interpreting the SLRs features, and vice versa, for designing the geometrical patterns.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
Lasing at the nanometre scale promises strong light-matter interactions and ultrafast operation. Plasmonic resonances supported by metallic nanoparticles have extremely small mode volumes and high ...field enhancements, making them an ideal platform for studying nanoscale lasing. At visible frequencies, however, the applicability of plasmon resonances is limited due to strong ohmic and radiative losses. Intriguingly, plasmonic nanoparticle arrays support non-radiative dark modes that offer longer life-times but are inaccessible to far-field radiation. Here, we show lasing both in dark and bright modes of an array of silver nanoparticles combined with optically pumped dye molecules. Linewidths of 0.2 nm at visible wavelengths and room temperature are observed. Access to the dark modes is provided by a coherent out-coupling mechanism based on the finite size of the array. The results open a route to utilize all modes of plasmonic lattices, also the high-Q ones, for studies of strong light-matter interactions, condensation and photon fluids.
We study spatial coherence properties of a system composed of periodic silver nanoparticle arrays covered with a fluorescent organic molecule (DiD) film. The evolution of spatial coherence of this ...composite structure from the weak to the strong coupling regime is investigated by systematically varying the coupling strength between the localized DiD excitons and the collective, delocalized modes of the nanoparticle array known as surface lattice resonances. A gradual evolution of coherence from the weak to the strong coupling regime is observed, with the strong coupling features clearly visible in interference fringes. A high degree of spatial coherence is demonstrated in the strong coupling regime, even when the mode is very excitonlike (80%), in contrast to the purely localized nature of molecular excitons. We show that coherence appears in proportion to the weight of the plasmonic component of the mode throughout the weak-to-strong coupling crossover, providing evidence for the hybrid nature of the normal modes.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
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