ABSTRACT

An interdisciplinary team was formed to determine effective and efficient pathogen reduction strategies for Australian beef slaughter plants. This evaluation takes the form of a comparative cost analysis of interventions designed to decontaminate carcasses. Laboratory-level, pilot-plant, and commercial facility evaluations are combined to provide the efficacy data. The cost data is collected from equipment supply companies and validated against current practices determined by a mail survey administered to beef slaughter plants in Australia. Key considerations have been found to include the scale of plants, cost of resources and labor, and export focus. Suggestions for the scale of societal benefits given the adoption of such interventions are forwarded. The lessons of the team and suggested future research complete the chapter.