Meat and Poultry Testing, Inspections and Audits

When it comes to food safety, raw meat and poultry are among the highest-risk categories, as evidenced by frequent recalls and safety scandals that impact even major brands. To comply with the stricter safety requirements, protect consumer health and uphold their brand reputation, meat and poultry manufacturers must guarantee the safety of their products at every stage: from farms and processing facilities to distribution centers and stores.

AI quality control and compliance services help brands and retailers ensure that the meat and poultry products in their supply chain are manufactured to their standards, stored and shipped under proper conditions, and comply with the regulations of their destination market.

We offer product inspections, lab tests, and supplier audits that help you secure your supply chain globally. Our product expertise covers all categories of meat and poultry, including:

• Fresh, frozen, processed, cooked meats and poultry
• Carcasses, cuts, fillets, organ meats, sausages
• Beef, pork, lamb, veal
• Chicken, duck, turkey
• Game meat and birds

Meat and Poultry Testing Expertise

AI offers a broad range of inspection and testing services that provide you with accurate and reliable information about the quality and safety of your meat and poultry products. Our inspection and testing protocols are prepared based on our extensive know-how, regulatory standards, and your in-house specifications. To ensure effective and objective sampling, we follow the ANSI/ASQC Z1.4 (ISO 2859-1) sampling procedure and the World Health Organization Food Code guidelines.

Solutions for Meat and Poultry Safety:

• Meat identification (DNA, ELISA)
• Freshness control using the Quality Index Method (QIM) and organoleptic checks (smell, look, texture)
• Grading (A, B or C) based on meat and poultry quality
• Tests to identify residues of heavy metals, pesticides, and biotoxins
• Process control with a glazed/deglazed test and drip loss test to prevent food fraud
• Standard size control to ensure uniform production in term of size and weight
• Defectives check against international regulations, national standards, and your specifications
• Shelf life and stability
• Microbiological tests

Meat and Poultry Lab Testing Expertise

AI labs are fully accredited to test your products against the standards and regulations of your destination market. We offer over 6,000 tests, ensure reliable sample collection, and deliver accurate results within 48 hours.

Lab tests available for meat and poultry products include:

Microbiological tests:

• Indicator organisms: coliforms, Enterobacter species, Staphylococcus, lactic acid bacteria, yeast and mold
• Pathogens: Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, E. coli, STEC

Chemical tests:

• Contaminants: pesticides, antibiotics, drugs, veterinary residues, heavy metals
• Allergens, including gluten
• Proximates (ash, fat, protein, moisture salt)

Nutritional tests and quality indicators:

• Full nutritional panels (calories, carbohydrates, fat and fatty acids)
• Minerals (calcium, iron, phosphates, sodium nitrate)
• Bone percentage
• Added water, added phosphate

Meat and Poultry Audits

AI food supplier audits provide you with reliable information about the state of manufacturing and ethical compliance in your food supply chain. Our auditors will conduct an on-site check of your supplier’s facilities, including farms, ranches, slaughterhouses, cutting plants, game handling establishments, processing plants, and storage.

Hygiene audits (GHP) are designed to ensure that your food suppliers’ facilities abide to international regulations on hygiene.

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits help you achieve GMP compliance and secure safety in your meat and poultry supply chain.

Ethical audits investigate your suppliers for social compliance, including working conditions and worker rights, helping you eliminate any instances of labor abuse from your meat and poultry supply chain.