Criteria for offal disposition to generate savings for processors

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) is investing in research that is looking at developing a set of criteria for saving offal from being condemned following processing line breakdowns of longer than two hours. 

Currently, when the processing line is stopped for more than two hours, offal still within the animal body is condemned. This project is identifying key quality attributes that may allow offal still within the animal body when a plant breakdown occurs, to be assessed for human consumption rather than being condemned.  

AMPC Program Manager Ann McDonald said, “Developing a set of criteria that can be used following plant breakdowns represents a significant savings potential for processors.” 

“Beef offal sets are currently valued at more than $200 each and large processing facilities that have two or more major breakdowns lasting longer than two hours may increase revenue by more than $20,000 per year by following the criteria.”

Researchers from All Things Meat will compare offal that are currently condemned with those processed from a working operating chain. The wholesomeness, microbiological and organoleptic quality (smell, colour, and texture), and refrigeration index will be examined. 

The criteria will then be presented to The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry along with other regulators for approval for the disposition of offal following a plant breakdown exceeding two hours.

AMPC will be seeking expressions of interest in the coming weeks from processing plants to get involved in the trials. 

“If you have a breakdown longer than two hours, you can call the service provider and be taken through the process to collect the required data,” Ann said. 

After the completion of the project, and subject to the agreement of regulators, the criteria will be provided to all Australian red meat processors. 

For more information about offal disposition or how to get involved with the trials, contact AMPC Program Manager Ann McDonald at a.mcdonald@ampc.com.au