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The 63rd International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST), hosted by Teagasc and UCC closed in Cork on Friday. The next congress will be held in Melbourne, Australia next year.
Paul Allen, recently retired from Teagasc, shared his thoughts on development of carcase classification from manual systems originally when the EU adopted a common standard to the introduction of video imaging analysis following a series of trails in Ireland.
He was of the view that the current system needs an upgrade to higher resolution digital cameras and LED lighting.
Any improvement on accuracy would be incremental but the next big step was in developing systems that could accurately predict meat yield and enable carcases be bought and priced accordingly.
A supermarket steak tray was used as a prop to demonstrate what the core issue was, namely the size of the steak, and he also highlighted that in future genetics would be an important element of predicting meat yield.
He was also of the view that the EUROP grid stifled development but that it was here to stay, to enable a common standard across the EU for price reporting.
Overview
The congress, which opened last Sunday, featured papers from scientists involved in meat research from across the world.
The 13th and final session on Friday was on the theme of meat and health – sustaining healthy protein sources.
Kevin Cashman from UCC highlighted how lean cuts of red meat play an important role in healthy eating guidelines internationally and that it has a nutrient profile that would enable it to carry several nutrition/nutrient content claims.
He focused in particular on how a vitamin D supplement in animal feed would lead to an enhanced vitamin D element in the meat portion.
Carrie Ruxton from Nutrition Communications UK, who works with AHDB, the English and Welsh levy board spoke on health controversies versus health connections for red meat.
This paper addressed the disproportionate focus on meat and health and detailed how misleading it was to equate risk of meat consumption to tobacco, alcohol and air pollution.
On this scale tobacco was by far the highest, alcohol significant air pollution less so but meat consumption barely registered.
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