How the Meat and Poultry Industries Use Data Loggers
Data loggers allow meat and poultry specialists to achieve precise and consistent monitoring of:
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Meat Smoking and cooking
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Meat Humidity and Storage
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Cold Chain and Shipping
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Submersible Needs, Drying Processes and Jerky
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Carcass Pasteurization Cycles
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Egg Shipping, Storing or Egg Pasteurization cycles
A data logger operates in four simple steps: •
Step 1: Start the data loggers. (Wireless data loggers can also be started after being deployed)
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Step 2: Deploy the data loggers.
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Step 3: Data is recorded for the desired span of time. If wireless loggers are used, data can instantly transmit to a computer, which facilitates real-time monitoring. If user selected thresholds are exceeded, the data logger can send an on screen alert message, e-mail, or text message to the computer and/or mobile device.
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Step 4: Download data (if not transmitting wirelessly), analyze and share reports.
Above all, data loggers help Meat and Poultry processors ensure compliance with HACCP programs and USDA regulations. Here are some of the applications in which data loggers provide benefit to meat and poultry specialists. Meat Smoking and Cooking It is important to select a temperature monitoring system that can be placed directly in an oven or smoke house. This can include a multi-channel temperature profiler that also allows for extreme temperature monitoring. There are data logger options designed to fit inside most conveyer ovens, some that utilize thermocouple probes and some are built to log temperatures of up to 662°F (350°C) for several hours. Humidity and Storage Today’s humidity data loggers offer a variety of options and high accuracy. The best products can be used for a variety of applications, including monitoring shipments, storage areas, and more. User-friendly data logging software is key to data logging ease and success. Cold Chain Monitoring and Shipping Meat and poultry products are sensitive to temperature fluctuations and need to be kept in a controlled environment. When storing, shipping, and distributing such products, an unbroken cold chain is vital to maintaining their freshness and quality. The right cold chain data loggers can assist in validating that products are stored and transported within regulated temperatures. Wet or Dry Processing Data loggers can be designed for a wide range of food and meat applications. For some meat processing, data loggers should be able to withstand temperatures of up to 284°F (140°C). Ideally one device can be utilized for drying or curing processes and also be completely submersible for other applications. The probe should always be enclosed in
food-grade stainless steel. Keep in mind that you may need various sizes and both rigid and flexible probe models. Validation of Pasteurization Cycles By measuring and recording post-slaughter data, a carcass temperature data logger allows the user to verify and validate post-slaughter pasteurization cycles. This process aids in reducing pathogens. Ideally, the device should have a stainless steel hook so that it can be hung directly from a carcass. It should also be durable and splash proof so that it can be used throughout the entire pasteurization process. It is best to choose a data logger that utilizes multiple thermocouples. That way they can be inserted into different sections of the meat to provide an overall temperature profile. Shipping and Storage of Eggs and the Egg Pasteurization Cycle There are data loggers custom designed for measuring temperature and humidity for egg processing environments. The best models are designed in the form of an egg in order to more closely gauge the impact that the process has upon the egg. Ideal for hatcheries, such devices are commonly used in monitoring the shipping and storage of eggs as well as monitoring pasteurization cycles. For more information visit us at http://www.madgetech.com