Product safety and quality assurance in beef and milk production
Conference: Forum 3: Product Safety: Contributions:
Posted Contributions:
Product safety and quality assurance in beef and milk production
     By Prof. Hellriegel Institut e.V. Bernburg on Thursday, January 13, 2000:
Chromatographic analysis of serum protein in bulk milk � a possibility to detect changes of the mammary tissue as well as of the manufacturing properties of milk
B. Lieske, G. Konrad & W. Faber
Professor Hellriegel Institut e. V. Bernburg, Abteilung Milch und Lebensmittel,
Dr.-Zinn-Weg 18, D-16225 Eberswalde, Germany
Abstract
Chromatographic analysis of serum protein in bulk milk (BM) samples using SE-FPLC was applied to deduce on the average udder health status and on the manufacturing properties in the dairy industry. The manufacturing properties were adversely affected by an increase in proteinase activity due to effects of mastitis. The increased proteinase activity in BM samples was correlated to an increase in free individual casein and bovine serum albumin but to a decrease in a-lactalbumin and lactose.
By Andrew Fearne on Wednesday, February 9, 2000:
FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE: INSIGHTS FROM THE UK BEEF INDUSTRY
Dr Andrew Fearne
Wye College, University of London
1. Introduction
The modern citizen, enjoying the benefits of modern science, tends to view 'safety' in general and 'food safety' in particular, as an absolute concept. In fact, although the food supply chains of today are very much safer than those of the past, most if not all human activity involves risks and one of the most important trade-offs all consumers face is the balancing of those risks against other 'costs' and 'benefits' (Swinbank, 1996).
Businesses operating in the food industry also face risks in the allocation of scarce resources to the production, distribution and sale of food products. The more firms invest in building consumer and customer loyalty the more likely they are to take actions, including the implementation of HACCP systems, to preserve that loyalty. Yet, such actions can prove costly and the incentives for cutting corners are relatively high in commodity markets, such as meat, in which margins are tight, product differentiation is, at best, very difficult to achieve, and the loyalty of customers and consumers is notoriously fickle. Moreover, the fundamental problem which all consumers and the majority of food businesses face is inadequate information upon which to make rational judgements, whether it be with respect to the safety of raw materials and the manufacturing process or the end product itself.
The food industry has a vested interest in supplying better information along the length of the supply chain (and avoiding trade with unscrupulous suppliers). Governments have both a duty and a vested interest in facilitating the process (and protecting consumers from unscrupulous businesses). In the extreme, the failure of markets to provide adequate information and to eradicate businesses who knowingly 'cut corners' with respect to food safety, results in Government intervention, not to facilitate but to regulate and enforce, to 'name and shame' and to deny consumers the freedom of choice which an efficient market should deliver. It is in everyone's interest to prevent such an extreme from becoming reality.
By Suzan Horst on Wednesday, February 16, 2000:
RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN RELATION TO FOOD SAFETY: WHO BENEFITS AND WHO PAYS?
Suzan HORST
Department of Economics and Management
Farm Management Group
Wageningen Agricultural University
Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen, the Netherlands
Abstract
Food safety is an issue of increasing importance. Safe food starts with safe 'ground material', i.e., healthy animals. Incentives for the producers (farmers, slaughter plants) to apply risk management strategies are divers. In absence of a perfect (transparent) market, consumer behaviour is not enough. Additional incentives can be provided via laws or regulations that force the agricultural sector to develop and apply risk reduction programs. Dutch case studies on Salmonella in poultry and paratuberculosis in dairy cattle show that the distribution of costs and benefits from such programs may influence the motivation of farmers to join. More insight into this aspect may help to develop more efficient programs.
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