PROPOSED NEW METHOD OF WHOLESALING FRESH MEAT BASED ON PASTEURIZATION BY GAMMA IRRADIATION

摘要

This new method, proposed for consideration by packing houses and retailers, consists of preparing packaged standard cuts of fresh meat, such as packaged fresh ground meat, packaged cut-up chicken, and the like, in retail-size portions at the packing house rather than at the retail meat market. The packaged meat would be pasteurized at the packing house by means of a relatively small dose of gamma radiation prior to shipping to the retailer. The feasibility of this method depends upon the extension of the refrigerator shelf-life of fresh meat by radiation pasteurization. Recent trends in retailing meats and the economics of meat processing suggest the desirability of handling meats in this way.