Methodology And Study Materials
Sub-workpackage 3.1 :
Screen and validate existing TTI and design ,develop and model new TTI systems for monitoring meat safety
Testing and kinetic modeling will be based on measurements, at appropriate
time intervals of the response of multiple TTI samples, isothermally stored
in controlled cabinets at temperatures from 0 to 15°C, (as for pathogens in
WP1). Response will be measured visually and instrumentally.
Response models will be assessed against measured values at dynamic, variable
temperature conditions. The same modelling and data analysis approach as in
WP1 will be followed. Reproducibility will also be assessed statistically. Based
on the state of the art knowledge on pathogen growth and the evolving data from
WP1, their potential and limitations as meat safety quality
indicators will be evaluated. .This evaluation will be used as an additional
guide for the further development and optimization of prototype TTIs. The aimed
output of this Sub-workpackage of WP3 is the development, validation
and assessment of accurate systems matching as close as possible the kinetics
of pathogens in the meat products.
Sub-workpackage 3.2 :
Optimize TTI and develop multiple signal full history TTI
TTIs developed in Sub-workpackage 3.1 will be optimized from a performance
and cost point of view. For example alternative configurations of enzymatic
TTIs will be designed and tested. The goal will be to improve accuracy and reproducibility
of response, stability before use, ease of application, ease of signal reading
(see also Sub-workpackage 3.3) and cost. This could be achieved through design
of systems that require smaller amounts of enzyme and substrate, for example
in a configuration where instead of the liquid in mini-pouch form they will
be immobilized on a solid absorbent mattrix.
Since it is may not be possible or practical to have a single suitable TTI
that mimics exactly the behaviour of a particular target meat pathogen a more
developed approach will be to use a combination of multiple signal full history
TTI.
The mathematical algorithm for processing the multiple signal and the partial
history TTI will be developed and evaluated. It will further be built in a user
friendly software that will translate the input TTI response to quality status
and risk level based on the kinetic characteristics of the TTI and the product.
Sub-workpackage 3.3 :
Assess and develop accurate and practical methodologies/equipment for TTI response data download for chill chain control
One practical aspect of TTI application, is the need for practical and accurate
means for reading TTI response. Within this task the specifications of a simpler,
cost effective measuring device will be developed and a prototype will be designed
and built. Measurements at the full spectrum with reflectance spectrometers
have indicated that it might be possible to isolate single frequencies that
correlate well with the total colour change. If such frequencies can be verified
low cost optical densitometers could be a potential direction for a measuring
device development.
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