Peripheral Lymph Node Inoculation for Consistent Salmonella Distribution in Ground Meat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for introducing pathogens like Salmonella into ground meat and poultry are inconsistent and fail to effectively mimic the distribution of pathogens during commercial production, limiting the development and testing of interventions to mitigate contamination after post-harvest interventions.
Innovation Solution
A novel method involving the incorporation of peripheral lymph nodes from animals challenged with pathogens into ground meat, using intradermal, subdermal, or transdermal inoculation to consistently introduce and recover Salmonella, allowing for the testing of interventions to reduce contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to introduce pathogens into ground meat, then the process is simple, but the distribution consistency and reliability of pathogen recovery are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses peripheral lymph nodes as an intermediary vehicle to introduce Salmonella into ground meat. Instead of directly inoculating the meat, the lymph nodes serve as a mediator that naturally distributes the pathogen throughout the meat matrix during grinding, achieving consistent and reliable pathogen recovery while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent copies the natural distribution mechanism of Salmonella in commercial production by incorporating infected peripheral lymph nodes into ground meat. This replicates the real-world contamination pattern, allowing researchers to study pathogen distribution as it occurs during actual food production processes
2Adaptability or versatility
If current post-harvest interventions are applied before grinding, then contamination can be reduced, but the ability to test interventions for pathogens in ground meat is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies post-harvest interventions (such as irradiation, cooking, or high pressure) to the peripheral lymph nodes before incorporating them into ground meat. This preliminary action allows researchers to test the effectiveness of these interventions in preventing Salmonella contamination while maintaining the ability to evaluate pathogen reduction in the final ground meat product
3Manufacturing precision
If peripheral lymph nodes are incorporated into ground meat, then pathogen distribution consistency is improved, but the complexity of the inoculation process increases
Solution Approach 1:
Peripheral lymph nodes serve as a natural intermediary that provides consistent pathogen distribution when incorporated into ground meat. The lymph nodes naturally release Salmonella throughout the meat matrix during grinding, achieving uniform distribution without requiring complex inoculation equipment or procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical inoculation systems with a biological approach using peripheral lymph nodes. Instead of using sophisticated delivery mechanisms to distribute pathogens uniformly, the natural anatomy and physiology of lymph nodes provide consistent pathogen release during the grinding process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a consistent and reliable way to introduce and recover Salmonella in ground meat, enabling effective testing of interventions to reduce contamination, thereby improving food safety measures.
Implementation Method 1
inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen
Implementation Method 2
inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen
Implementation Method 3
inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes a method of introducing a pathogenic infection into one or more peripheral lymph nodes of an animal for testing of meat, comprising: inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen; harvesting one or more peripheral lymph nodes from the animal; grinding meat or meat trimmings and the one or more peripheral lymph nodes into ground meat; and determining a ratio of a number of peripheral lymph nodes infected to the weight of the meat or meat trimmings used to create the ground meat, wherein the infected ground meat can be used to test interventions against the known pathogen in a grinding process.