---
_id: '13721'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: In this study, we examined the possibility of detecting different types of
    materials that contaminate carcasses during industrial pig slaughter using video
    image analysis and artificial intelligence (AI). A camera system was installed
    between evisceration and postmortem meat inspection on an industrial pig slaughter
    line with a capacity of 12,000 pigs per day. The pigs were photographed using
    five 2D cameras, and the images were analysed for contamination using an AI-based
    algorithm. The setup, which was developed and installed by CLK GmbH, performed
    under industrial conditions. In order to train the system, specifications were
    created for the most frequently occurring types of contamination, namely, intestinal
    contents, bile, stomach contents, and tubular rail fat. Afterward, the system
    was trained using annotated images. In principle, the system was able to recognize
    all types of contamination on the camera images; even pinhead-sized contaminations
    were visible. The agreement between the algorithm and the results of an expert
    assessor who assessed the images online agreed in 60% of the judgements. The agreement
    between experts using onsite assessment and those using online assessment by images
    was 73%. Thus, the kappa measure of agreement was κ = 0.1215 (p = 0.0199). Significantly
    higher recognition rates appear to be possible by adjusting the algorithm and
    increasing the number of training images. Thus, the system is a useful tool to
    preselect contaminated carcasses and to support postmortem inspection.
article_number: '1698416'
author:
- first_name: Janna
  full_name: Tholen, Janna
  id: '80924'
  last_name: Tholen
- first_name: Alina
  full_name: Kirse, Alina
  last_name: Kirse
- first_name: Alexander
  full_name: Voß, Alexander
  last_name: Voß
- first_name: Gereon
  full_name: Schulze Althoff, Gereon
  last_name: Schulze Althoff
- first_name: Lea
  full_name: Strotkötter, Lea
  last_name: Strotkötter
- first_name: Lothar
  full_name: Kreienbrock, Lothar
  last_name: Kreienbrock
- first_name: Matthias
  full_name: Upmann, Matthias
  id: '12666'
  last_name: Upmann
citation:
  ama: Tholen J, Kirse A, Voß A, et al. Detection of carcass contamination using video
    image analysis during industrial pig slaughter. <i>Frontiers in Food Science and
    Technology</i>. 2026;6. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416">10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416</a>
  apa: Tholen, J., Kirse, A., Voß, A., Schulze Althoff, G., Strotkötter, L., Kreienbrock,
    L., &#38; Upmann, M. (2026). Detection of carcass contamination using video image
    analysis during industrial pig slaughter. <i>Frontiers in Food Science and Technology</i>,
    <i>6</i>, Article 1698416. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416">https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416</a>
  bjps: <b>Tholen J <i>et al.</i></b> (2026) Detection of Carcass Contamination Using
    Video Image Analysis during Industrial Pig Slaughter. <i>Frontiers in Food Science
    and Technology</i> <b>6</b>.
  chicago: Tholen, Janna, Alina Kirse, Alexander Voß, Gereon Schulze Althoff, Lea
    Strotkötter, Lothar Kreienbrock, and Matthias Upmann. “Detection of Carcass Contamination
    Using Video Image Analysis during Industrial Pig Slaughter.” <i>Frontiers in Food
    Science and Technology</i> 6 (2026). <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416">https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416</a>.
  chicago-de: Tholen, Janna, Alina Kirse, Alexander Voß, Gereon Schulze Althoff, Lea
    Strotkötter, Lothar Kreienbrock und Matthias Upmann. 2026. Detection of carcass
    contamination using video image analysis during industrial pig slaughter. <i>Frontiers
    in Food Science and Technology</i> 6. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416">10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416</a>,
    .
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Tholen, Janna</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Kirse, Alina</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Voß,
    Alexander</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Schulze Althoff, Gereon</span>
    ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Strotkötter, Lea</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Kreienbrock,
    Lothar</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Upmann, Matthias</span>:
    Detection of carcass contamination using video image analysis during industrial
    pig slaughter. In: <i>Frontiers in Food Science and Technology</i> Bd. 6. Lausanne,
    Frontiers Media SA (2026)'
  havard: J. Tholen, A. Kirse, A. Voß, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Strotkötter, L. Kreienbrock,
    M. Upmann, Detection of carcass contamination using video image analysis during
    industrial pig slaughter, Frontiers in Food Science and Technology. 6 (2026).
  ieee: 'J. Tholen <i>et al.</i>, “Detection of carcass contamination using video
    image analysis during industrial pig slaughter,” <i>Frontiers in Food Science
    and Technology</i>, vol. 6, Art. no. 1698416, 2026, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416">10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416</a>.'
  mla: Tholen, Janna, et al. “Detection of Carcass Contamination Using Video Image
    Analysis during Industrial Pig Slaughter.” <i>Frontiers in Food Science and Technology</i>,
    vol. 6, 1698416, 2026, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416">https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416</a>.
  short: J. Tholen, A. Kirse, A. Voß, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Strotkötter, L. Kreienbrock,
    M. Upmann, Frontiers in Food Science and Technology 6 (2026).
  ufg: '<b>Tholen, Janna u. a.</b>: Detection of carcass contamination using video
    image analysis during industrial pig slaughter, in: <i>Frontiers in Food Science
    and Technology</i> 6 (2026).'
  van: Tholen J, Kirse A, Voß A, Schulze Althoff G, Strotkötter L, Kreienbrock L,
    et al. Detection of carcass contamination using video image analysis during industrial
    pig slaughter. Frontiers in Food Science and Technology. 2026;6.
date_created: 2026-04-30T13:02:33Z
date_updated: 2026-05-04T09:41:58Z
department:
- _id: DEP4028
- _id: DEP4029
doi: 10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416
intvolume: '         6'
keyword:
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- bile contamination
- contamination detection
- faecal contamination
- slaughter hygiene
- tubular rail fat
language:
- iso: eng
place: Lausanne
publication: Frontiers in Food Science and Technology
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 2674-1121
publication_status: published
publisher: Frontiers Media SA
status: public
title: Detection of carcass contamination using video image analysis during industrial
  pig slaughter
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 6
year: '2026'
...