KontRed

Development and implementation of technological processes to reduce microbial contaminants in the poultry and pig slaughtering process.

Contaminated meat can be a carrier of infectious diseases to humans.  The BMEL-sponsored project "KontRed" is designed to automatically detect and reduce contamination on slaughtered animal carcasses and thus contribute to consumer protection.

Issues surrounding meat consumption and quality have gained attention in recent years. Consumers therefore react particularly sensitively to negative headlines from the meat industry. The project "KontRed" aims to improve the safety of poultry and pork products and sustainably strengthen consumer confidence.

The main objective of the project is to reduce the microbial load of carcasses at the end of the slaughter line by using technical processes for process control. The focus is primarily on zoonotic pathogens, as these are transmissible from animals to humans.

The TH OWL is involved in a sub-project on automatic contamination detection on carcasses during pig slaughtering. This takes place in close cooperation with Tönnies Lebensmittel GmbH & Co. KG and CLK GmbH Bildverarbeitung & Robotik. The use of technical aids such as cameras is intended to reliably detect contamination and thus make the food safer from a hygienic point of view.

Contact:                          Prof. Dr. Matthias Upmann, Janna Tholen

Cooperation partner: Tönnies Lebensmittel GmbH & Co. KG, CLK GmbH Bildverarbeitung & Robotik

Funding program:        BMEL (Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture)

Duration:                        Nov. 2020 until Nov. 2023