---
_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. Frontiers in Food Science and
Technology. 2026;6. doi:10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416
apa: Tholen, J., Kirse, A., Voß, A., Schulze Althoff, G., Strotkötter, L., Kreienbrock,
L., & Upmann, M. (2026). Detection of carcass contamination using video image
analysis during industrial pig slaughter. Frontiers in Food Science and Technology,
6, Article 1698416. https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416
bjps: Tholen J et al. (2026) Detection of Carcass Contamination Using
Video Image Analysis during Industrial Pig Slaughter. Frontiers in Food Science
and Technology 6.
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.” Frontiers in Food
Science and Technology 6 (2026). https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416.
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. Frontiers
in Food Science and Technology 6. doi:10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416,
.
din1505-2-1: 'Tholen, Janna ; Kirse, Alina ; Voß,
Alexander ; Schulze Althoff, Gereon
; Strotkötter, Lea ; Kreienbrock,
Lothar ; Upmann, Matthias:
Detection of carcass contamination using video image analysis during industrial
pig slaughter. In: Frontiers in Food Science and Technology 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 et al., “Detection of carcass contamination using video
image analysis during industrial pig slaughter,” Frontiers in Food Science
and Technology, vol. 6, Art. no. 1698416, 2026, doi: 10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416.'
mla: Tholen, Janna, et al. “Detection of Carcass Contamination Using Video Image
Analysis during Industrial Pig Slaughter.” Frontiers in Food Science and Technology,
vol. 6, 1698416, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3389/frfst.2026.1698416.
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: 'Tholen, Janna u. a.: Detection of carcass contamination using video
image analysis during industrial pig slaughter, in: Frontiers in Food Science
and Technology 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'
...
---
_id: '13723'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: "The introduction of error feedback systems can lead to a reduction in the
occurrence of errors. Therefore, it was investigated whether the proportion of
contaminated carcasses can be reduced by installing a feedback system (preInspector)
indicating an accumulation of contamination on a pig slaughter line. The technical
equipment for the workplace of a „preInspector“ was installed on the slaughter
line between the evisceration and official meat inspection. The person working
there operated various hand buttons („buzzers“) depending on the type of carcass
defects that occurred. In this case, contamination with tubular rail fat and faecal
contamination, on the belly and/or on the back, were registered. Other defects
were related to the plucks (tongue, trachea, oesophagus, lungs, heart, diaphragm,
liver), intestinal package, hair and claw removal. After inspecting the carcass
halves and activating the buzzer, the signals were collected. The detection was
automatically assigned to the corresponding pig.\r\nThe average slaughter rate
was 1200 pigs per hour. As soon as the number of contaminations rose above a threshold
of 50 contaminations per 60-minute time interval, a light signal was triggered
at the corresponding workstations on the slaughter line. On average, 981 positive
buzzer activities related to contaminations per day were detected, with large
fluctuations of the frequency between 323 and 1,752. An influence on the frequency
of contamination occurrence through the feedback to the corresponding workstations
was not observed."
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Janna
full_name: Tholen, Janna
id: '80924'
last_name: Tholen
- first_name: Matthias
full_name: Upmann, Matthias
id: '12666'
last_name: Upmann
citation:
ama: 'Tholen J, Upmann M. Influence of a hygiene feedback system during pig slaughter
on the frequency of carcass contamination. Journal of food safety and food
quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene. 2024;75(6):156-160. doi:10.53194/0003-925X-75-156'
apa: 'Tholen, J., & Upmann, M. (2024). Influence of a hygiene feedback system
during pig slaughter on the frequency of carcass contamination. Journal of
Food Safety and Food Quality : JFSFQ : Archiv Für Lebensmittelhygiene, 75(6),
156–160. https://doi.org/10.53194/0003-925X-75-156'
bjps: 'Tholen J and Upmann M (2024) Influence of a Hygiene Feedback System
during Pig Slaughter on the Frequency of Carcass Contamination. Journal of
food safety and food quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene 75,
156–160.'
chicago: 'Tholen, Janna, and Matthias Upmann. “Influence of a Hygiene Feedback System
during Pig Slaughter on the Frequency of Carcass Contamination.” Journal of
Food Safety and Food Quality : JFSFQ : Archiv Für Lebensmittelhygiene 75,
no. 6 (2024): 156–60. https://doi.org/10.53194/0003-925X-75-156.'
chicago-de: 'Tholen, Janna und Matthias Upmann. 2024. Influence of a hygiene feedback
system during pig slaughter on the frequency of carcass contamination. Journal
of food safety and food quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene 75,
Nr. 6: 156–160. doi:10.53194/0003-925X-75-156,
.'
din1505-2-1: 'Tholen, Janna ; Upmann, Matthias: Influence of a hygiene
feedback system during pig slaughter on the frequency of carcass contamination.
In: Journal of food safety and food quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene
Bd. 75. Alfeld, Leine , Schaper (2024), Nr. 6, S. 156–160'
havard: 'J. Tholen, M. Upmann, Influence of a hygiene feedback system during pig
slaughter on the frequency of carcass contamination, Journal of Food Safety and
Food Quality : JFSFQ : Archiv Für Lebensmittelhygiene. 75 (2024) 156–160.'
ieee: 'J. Tholen and M. Upmann, “Influence of a hygiene feedback system during pig
slaughter on the frequency of carcass contamination,” Journal of food safety
and food quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene, vol. 75, no. 6,
pp. 156–160, 2024, doi: 10.53194/0003-925X-75-156.'
mla: 'Tholen, Janna, and Matthias Upmann. “Influence of a Hygiene Feedback System
during Pig Slaughter on the Frequency of Carcass Contamination.” Journal of
Food Safety and Food Quality : JFSFQ : Archiv Für Lebensmittelhygiene, vol.
75, no. 6, 2024, pp. 156–60, https://doi.org/10.53194/0003-925X-75-156.'
short: 'J. Tholen, M. Upmann, Journal of Food Safety and Food Quality : JFSFQ :
Archiv Für Lebensmittelhygiene 75 (2024) 156–160.'
ufg: 'Tholen, Janna/Upmann, Matthias: Influence of a hygiene feedback system
during pig slaughter on the frequency of carcass contamination, in: Journal
of food safety and food quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene 75
(2024), H. 6, S. 156–160.'
van: 'Tholen J, Upmann M. Influence of a hygiene feedback system during pig slaughter
on the frequency of carcass contamination. Journal of food safety and food quality :
JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene. 2024;75(6):156–60.'
date_created: 2026-04-30T14:33:04Z
date_updated: 2026-05-04T09:32:30Z
department:
- _id: DEP4028
- _id: DEP4029
doi: 10.53194/0003-925X-75-156
intvolume: ' 75'
issue: '6'
keyword:
- Contamination
- industrial pig slaughter
- faecal contamination
- hygiene feedback system
language:
- iso: eng
page: 156-160
place: 'Alfeld, Leine '
publication: 'Journal of food safety and food quality : JFSFQ : Archiv für Lebensmittelhygiene'
publication_identifier:
issn:
- 0003-925X
publication_status: published
publisher: Schaper
status: public
title: Influence of a hygiene feedback system during pig slaughter on the frequency
of carcass contamination
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 75
year: '2024'
...