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Oct 17, 2019 | Blogs, Food / Beverage | 0 comments
The title says it all. Boar taint is a complex subject. For some, it’s not an issue. Others argue that it’s one of the biggest challenges to pork quality. It’s a very subjective response.
In her blog, Dr. Laura Hancox illustrates the striking difference between the reactions of men and women after sniffing 2 specific pots: one filled with skatole (3-methyl-indole), and one filled with androstenone (5α-androst-16-ene-3-one). These are the 2 compounds of boar taint.
What Hancox experienced and witnessed is consistent with several studies that found that women seem to be more sensitive to boar taint. 1,2 It’s also interesting because studies have also found that about 75% of consumers can detect and taste boar taint.3 Of those consumers, 15 -30% are unable to detect androstenone but seem able to identify skatole.4,5 Clearly, these are pretty good reasons to take boar taint more seriously.
The pork producers’ painThis is where things get controversial. In efforts to eliminate tainted pork, pork producers usually resort to piglet castration, which raises animal welfare concerns. The European Union is leading the way to seek streamlined alternative solutions to pig castration. The EU Directive 2001/93/EEC, for example, lays down the minimum standards required to protect pig welfare. France and Germany are leading the pack by outlawing the castration of piglets without anesthetic by the end of 2021.
So how does a pork producer prevent tainted boars from entering the fresh food market?
Theoretically, it’s simple: identify tainted carcasses before they are distributed. That means pork producers need to quantify both androstenone and skatole. By doing so, they can remove pigs with unacceptable levels of boar taint at the slaughter line.5
However, the industry struggles to find cost-effective, rapid, validated and standardized methods that can detect boar taint compounds.
Finding the right methodAs analytical scientists, we are always looking for cutting-edge and innovative ways to solve our problems with boar taint. Common techniques include:
Effectively monitor boar taint in 8 stepsHow about an 8-step process that takes 8 seconds per analysis? The focus is on speed and accuracy. We have partnered with slaughterhouse industry experts at Phytronix to deliver a robust, rugged and rapid analytical solution for determining boar taint in meat products.
Here are the top 3 key advantages of using a SCIEX mass spectrometer and Laser Diode Thermal Desorption (LDTD):
Download the fact sheet to find out what makes this 8-step, 8-second process so effective >
References
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has gained significant attention in the clinical laboratory due to its ability to provide best-in-class sensitivity and specificity for the detection of clinically relevant analytes across a wide range of assays. For clinical laboratories new to LC-MS/MS, integrating this technology into their daily routine operations may seem like a daunting task. Developing a clear outline and defining the requirements needed to implement LC-MS/MS into your daily operations is critical to maximize the productivity and success of your clinical laboratory.
In today’s rapidly evolving food industry, the role of food testing laboratories has never been more critical. Ensuring the safety, quality, and authenticity of food products is paramount, and this responsibility falls heavily on the shoulders of laboratory managers. The economics of food testing—encompassing everything from high-throughput pesticide screening to advanced research on alternative protein sources—plays a pivotal role in shaping the operational efficiency and financial health of these laboratories.
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