---
_id: '12784'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 'During pig slaughter, contaminants such as intestinal and stomach contents,
    bile, tubular rail fat, and reddish foam from the respiratory tract frequently
    appear on carcasses, potentially compromising meat safety. This study examined
    the impact of these contaminants on the bacterial loads of pig carcasses, using
    total bacterial counts and Enterobacteriaceae counts as hygiene indicators. Examination
    of the substances as such showed that intestinal and stomach contents were particularly
    conspicuous to undermine the carcase hygiene due to total bacterial counts of
    similar to 6.0 log10 CFU g-1 (intestinal content) and 5.5 log10 CFU g-1 (stomach
    content). Tubular rail fat showed varying contamination levels, from low (3.1
    log10 CFU g-1) to high (6.4 log10 CFU g-1). The reddish foam had moderate contamination
    (4.3 log10 CFU g-1). Enterobacteriaceae levels mirrored these results at a lower
    level. Subsequently, a comparative study analysing bacterial levels in contaminated
    and in noncontaminated pork rind regions was performed. Even small amounts of
    intestinal and stomach contents led to significant increases in total bacterial
    counts of up to 3 log10 CFU cm-(2) and in Enterobacteriaceae counts (up to 5 log10
    CFU cm-(2)). Other contaminants did not significantly raise bacterial levels:
    their total viable counts around 3.5 log10 CFU cm-(2) were similar to those of
    uncontaminated carcass areas. Nevertheless, they should be removed before further
    processing.'
article_number: ovae125
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. Contribution of the main contaminating materials during
    pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses . <i>Letters in Applied Microbiology</i>.
    2024;77(12). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125">https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125</a>
  apa: Tholen, J., &#38; Upmann, M. (2024). Contribution of the main contaminating
    materials during pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses . <i>Letters
    in Applied Microbiology</i>, <i>77</i>(12), Article ovae125. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125">https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125</a>
  bjps: <b>Tholen J and Upmann M</b> (2024) Contribution of the Main Contaminating
    Materials during Pig Slaughter to the Microbial Numbers on Carcasses . <i>Letters
    in Applied Microbiology</i> <b>77</b>.
  chicago: Tholen, Janna, and Matthias Upmann. “Contribution of the Main Contaminating
    Materials during Pig Slaughter to the Microbial Numbers on Carcasses .” <i>Letters
    in Applied Microbiology</i> 77, no. 12 (2024). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125">https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125</a>.
  chicago-de: Tholen, Janna und Matthias Upmann. 2024. Contribution of the main contaminating
    materials during pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses . <i>Letters
    in Applied Microbiology</i> 77, Nr. 12. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125">https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125</a>,
    .
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Tholen, Janna</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Upmann, Matthias</span>: Contribution of the
    main contaminating materials during pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on
    carcasses . In: <i>Letters in Applied Microbiology</i> Bd. 77. Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell
    (2024), Nr. 12'
  havard: J. Tholen, M. Upmann, Contribution of the main contaminating materials during
    pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses , Letters in Applied Microbiology.
    77 (2024).
  ieee: 'J. Tholen and M. Upmann, “Contribution of the main contaminating materials
    during pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses ,” <i>Letters in Applied
    Microbiology</i>, vol. 77, no. 12, Art. no. ovae125, 2024, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125">https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125</a>.'
  mla: Tholen, Janna, and Matthias Upmann. “Contribution of the Main Contaminating
    Materials during Pig Slaughter to the Microbial Numbers on Carcasses .” <i>Letters
    in Applied Microbiology</i>, vol. 77, no. 12, ovae125, 2024, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125">https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125</a>.
  short: J. Tholen, M. Upmann, Letters in Applied Microbiology 77 (2024).
  ufg: '<b>Tholen, Janna/Upmann, Matthias</b>: Contribution of the main contaminating
    materials during pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses , in: <i>Letters
    in Applied Microbiology</i> 77 (2024), H. 12.'
  van: Tholen J, Upmann M. Contribution of the main contaminating materials during
    pig slaughter to the microbial numbers on carcasses . Letters in Applied Microbiology.
    2024;77(12).
date_created: 2025-04-14T13:21:45Z
date_updated: 2025-06-25T13:09:31Z
department:
- _id: DEP4029
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae125
external_id:
  isi:
  - '001379203200001'
  pmid:
  - '39657079'
intvolume: '        77'
isi: '1'
issue: '12'
keyword:
- bile
- stomach content
- intestinal content
- tubular rail fat
- carcass contamination
- slaughter hygiene
language:
- iso: eng
place: Oxford
pmid: '1'
publication: Letters in Applied Microbiology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1472-765X
  issn:
  - 0266-8254
publication_status: published
publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: 'Contribution of the main contaminating materials during pig slaughter to the
  microbial numbers on carcasses '
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 77
year: '2024'
...
---
_id: '13012'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: The aim of the study is to provide an up-to date overall evaluation of visual
    contamination occurring on the slaughter line in order to provide a basis for
    implementing contamination control measures and to the hygienic quality of the
    processes. For this purpose, 627 contaminated pig carcasses in an industrial slaughterhouse
    in north western Germany were examined in 2021 for its distribution of type, areal
    extent and localization of slaughter contamination. Prior to official meat inspection,
    two persons visually scanned dorsal and ventral surfaces of the eviscerated but
    not yet split pig carcasses from cranial to caudal and recorded types, areal extent
    and localization of the contamination. The main contamination type were intestinal
    contents, bile, stomach contents, tubular rail fat and “others”, which mostly
    consisted of a reddish foam from the respiratory tract. 103 out of 627 contaminated
    animals showed more than one contamination, which leads to a total number of 754
    contaminations detected. Intestinal contents accounted for almost half of all
    contaminations and “others” for 30%. Forelimb, back and ham together counted for
    70% of the contaminated regions. The affected area was smaller than that of a
    one euro coin (diameter about 23 mm) in 86% of the cases.
article_number: '109365'
author:
- first_name: Janna
  full_name: Tholen, Janna
  id: '80924'
  last_name: Tholen
- first_name: J.
  full_name: Grosse-Kleimann, J.
  last_name: Grosse-Kleimann
- first_name: G.
  full_name: Schulze Althoff, G.
  last_name: Schulze Althoff
- first_name: L.
  full_name: Kreienbrock, L.
  last_name: Kreienbrock
- first_name: Matthias
  full_name: Upmann, Matthias
  id: '12666'
  last_name: Upmann
citation:
  ama: Tholen J, Grosse-Kleimann J, Schulze Althoff G, Kreienbrock L, Upmann M. Type,
    areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations during industrial pig
    slaughter. <i>Meat Science</i>. 2023;208(2). doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365">10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365</a>
  apa: Tholen, J., Grosse-Kleimann, J., Schulze Althoff, G., Kreienbrock, L., &#38;
    Upmann, M. (2023). Type, areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations
    during industrial pig slaughter. <i>Meat Science</i>, <i>208</i>(2), Article 109365.
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365</a>
  bjps: <b>Tholen J <i>et al.</i></b> (2023) Type, Areal Extent and Localization of
    Carcass Contaminations during Industrial Pig Slaughter. <i>Meat Science</i> <b>208</b>.
  chicago: Tholen, Janna, J. Grosse-Kleimann, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Kreienbrock,
    and Matthias Upmann. “Type, Areal Extent and Localization of Carcass Contaminations
    during Industrial Pig Slaughter.” <i>Meat Science</i> 208, no. 2 (2023). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365</a>.
  chicago-de: Tholen, Janna, J. Grosse-Kleimann, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Kreienbrock
    und Matthias Upmann. 2023. Type, areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations
    during industrial pig slaughter. <i>Meat Science</i> 208, Nr. 2. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365">10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365</a>,
    .
  din1505-2-1: '<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Tholen, Janna</span> ; <span
    style="font-variant:small-caps;">Grosse-Kleimann, J.</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Schulze
    Althoff, G.</span> ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Kreienbrock, L.</span>
    ; <span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Upmann, Matthias</span>: Type, areal
    extent and localization of carcass contaminations during industrial pig slaughter.
    In: <i>Meat Science</i> Bd. 208. London [u.a.], Elsevier BV (2023), Nr. 2'
  havard: J. Tholen, J. Grosse-Kleimann, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Kreienbrock, M. Upmann,
    Type, areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations during industrial
    pig slaughter, Meat Science. 208 (2023).
  ieee: 'J. Tholen, J. Grosse-Kleimann, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Kreienbrock, and M.
    Upmann, “Type, areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations during
    industrial pig slaughter,” <i>Meat Science</i>, vol. 208, no. 2, Art. no. 109365,
    2023, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365">10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365</a>.'
  mla: Tholen, Janna, et al. “Type, Areal Extent and Localization of Carcass Contaminations
    during Industrial Pig Slaughter.” <i>Meat Science</i>, vol. 208, no. 2, 109365,
    2023, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365</a>.
  short: J. Tholen, J. Grosse-Kleimann, G. Schulze Althoff, L. Kreienbrock, M. Upmann,
    Meat Science 208 (2023).
  ufg: '<b>Tholen, Janna u. a.</b>: Type, areal extent and localization of carcass
    contaminations during industrial pig slaughter, in: <i>Meat Science</i> 208 (2023),
    H. 2.'
  van: Tholen J, Grosse-Kleimann J, Schulze Althoff G, Kreienbrock L, Upmann M. Type,
    areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations during industrial pig
    slaughter. Meat Science. 2023;208(2).
date_created: 2025-06-24T12:08:29Z
date_updated: 2025-06-25T12:40:42Z
department:
- _id: DEP4029
doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109365
external_id:
  isi:
  - '001111539700001'
  pmid:
  - '37939509'
intvolume: '       208'
isi: '1'
issue: '2'
keyword:
- Abattoir
- Slaughter hygiene
- Evisceration
- Pork production
- Pig carcass contamination
- Fecal contamination
- Bile contamination
- Meat inspection
language:
- iso: eng
place: London [u.a.]
pmid: '1'
publication: Meat Science
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1873-4138
  issn:
  - 0309-1740
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier BV
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Type, areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations during industrial
  pig slaughter
type: scientific_journal_article
user_id: '83781'
volume: 208
year: '2023'
...