Cutting the fat

Denmark-based firm Foss has unveiled the latest addition to the Foss meat analysis portfolio, the MeatMaster. The company claims that the intelligent in-line technology can accurately measure the fat content in meat.

The combination of lean meat and fat is an important factor for meat trimming and processing plants. Too much fat can mean fines and customer dissatisfaction.

Foss believes that MeatMaster faces this challenge in an intelligent way that improves on traditional fat content determination methods. Available methods have usually been based on samples handled in a laboratory. This often means that the samples are not representative and results take time to achieve.

MeatMaster​ is integrated in the production line. The whole batch is analysed, which Foss claims makes the results 100 per cent representative. In addition, the results are integrated into the operating system of the plant allowing automatic control of material according to a specified fat content.

MeatMaster can also detect metal, which reduces the risk of damage to instruments further along in the production line.

The product features dual x-ray technology, which uses electromagnetic radiation of a high frequency. This makes it possible to accurately determine the fat content in meat due to a small difference in the x-ray absorption of lean and fat tissue.

MeatMaster has been designed so that neither the meat, nor the surroundings are affected by the X-rays.

Foss​ provides analytical solutions to ensure the safe production of food, agricultural and pharmaceutical products. In the meat industry, Foss is a global provider of a versatile range of solutions, from laboratory to at-line and in-line solutions that use everything from traditional wet chemistry reference methods to the most advanced analytical methods.

The company is privately-owned and employs over 1,100 worldwide. It has manufacturing and research and development facilities in Denmark, Sweden and the US.