JP2004361376A - Method for sampling and preserving edible meat sample, and tool used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a series of methods for preserving a piece of meat sample for a long time, and to provide a simple tool for sampling and preserving the piece of meat sample. <P>SOLUTION: In the method for sampling/preserving edible meat samples for sampling a required amount of piece of meat samples from edible meat, after slaughter and dressing, and for preserving the sampled piece of meat for a fixed period, the sampled piece of meat sample is dried before a preservation process, and the dried piece of meat sample is preserved. The sampling tool comprises an edged tool for sampling the piece of meat sample from the part of dressed carcass; a base where the edged tool is provided; and an accommodation capsule of the piece of meat sample detachably mounted to the base. The longitudinal section of the edge body of the edge tool is of an arc shape or of a circular shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for collecting small pieces from meat such as beef immediately after slaughter as a sample and storing the same for a long period of time, and to a device used for collection and storage.

  Recently, cattle spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been contaminated by feed as a cause of feed, and it has become a worldwide problem that mad cow disease develops in those who take it. In addition, the false indication of the production area was also triggered by this, which has become a serious problem in the food industry. By the way, it is a minimum requirement that not only cattle but also foods be harmless for human health, but if foods contaminated with harmful substances, viruses and bacteria are discovered, It is very important to ensure that the food is identified, that the tissue is analyzed, and that the route of contamination is tracked for rapid processing and investigation of the cause. To do so, the food provided to the market needs to be in a state that can be easily analyzed at a later date.

  However, at present, taking beef as an example, breeding cows have ear tags immediately after birth and their history is recorded immediately after birth, but such management is performed for other raw meat such as pigs and chickens. Not. Furthermore, even in the case of beef, when slaughtering in a processing plant, the neck is cut first, but this will separate the meat-marked part from the ear-marked part. In a factory where the processing is performed, there is a possibility that a history may be erroneously recognized, and there is a problem that subsequent tracking is hindered. In addition, it is impossible to specify the virus only by managing the documents, and when reliable evaluation is required, the presence of a real sample such as muscle tissue is indispensable. In addition, since the sample is required to be stored for a long period of time, it is preferable to manage the sample at normal temperature due to problems in facilities and equipment. Then, it is also necessary to avoid decay during storage.

  The present invention facilitates storage of tissue samples necessary for tracking meat diseases and genetic factors as described above, a series of methods for long-term storage of meat piece samples, and collection of meat piece samples. It is an object of the present invention to disclose a simple device for storing.

    In the present invention, in order to achieve the above-described object, a means is used in which a required amount of a meat piece sample is collected from a lean portion of edible meat after slaughtering and demolition, and the collected meat piece sample is stored for a certain period of time. Further, a means of drying the collected meat piece sample prior to the preservation process and storing the dried meat piece sample was also used. By drying the meat piece sample prior to storage, it is possible to prevent deterioration in quality during the storage period with only simple equipment. In addition, the meat sample should be taken from the neck of the carcasses of the edible meat. The neck is a portion where the lean is relatively exposed, and the lean portion used for DNA analysis of the tissue that will be required in the future can be easily collected. The meat piece sample was premised on the neck lean, which is relatively easy to collect, but it is not limited to the neck lean as long as it can be used for DNA analysis in the future. However, this is not excluded.

  On the other hand, as a device used for this, a configuration comprising a blade for collecting a meat sample from carcass, a base provided with the blade, and a capsule for accommodating a meat sample detachably attached to the base is adopted. It was decided to. In this means, the capsule for storing the knife and the meat piece sample can be removed, so that only the capsule can be provided for storage after the sample is collected, and the storage space can be reduced. In particular, a means for making the blade body of the blade into an arc shape or a circular shape in a vertical section was also used. If the blade body has a vertical cross-section arc or circular shape, the contact area of the blade with the meat piece will be small, the cutting edge will be concentrated at the contact point with the meat piece, and the blade body will function to cut the surface of the meat piece, It will easily sink into the meat pieces.

  Further, as another means, a container body having a bottomed cylindrical shape and a cap for sealing the opening of the container body are provided, and the container body side of the cap is provided with a step forming two high and low sectors, In the fan-shaped portion, a cutting tool is provided in an arc shape along the inner circular arc of the fan shape. In this means, by operating the cap, a sample can be collected only by cutting off a piece of meat with a blade provided in an arc shape, and the storage state is realized by sealing the cap in the container body as it is .

  As still another means, a container body and a lid integrally provided on the container body via a hinge are provided, and an arc portion is provided at a tip side of the container body, and an arc inside the arc portion is provided. It was decided to provide a knife along. A pair of claws for opening prevention are also provided at positions corresponding to the container body and the lid, respectively. According to this means, after the meat piece is collected by operating the container body and using the blade, the stored state is realized only by closing the lid. Further, the lid once closed is held by the claw, and is not opened by the elasticity of the hinge.

  Furthermore, in the means in which the container for the desiccant is provided in the container body, the desiccant inside allows the sample to be stored at room temperature simply by setting the cap or the lid at a predetermined position. Further, by employing a means for providing a small IC chip in the encapsulating capsule, a large amount of history data can be written, and a highly accurate inspection can be performed in the future.

    In the present invention, since the method described above and the equipment used for the method are adopted, a meat piece sample can be collected by a simple operation and can be stored only for a required period. Even when the physiological history needs to be confirmed at a later date, the meat sample can be reliably specified without causing a misperception.

  In the above-described means, edible cattle are mainly used for sampling mothers, but edible livestock such as pigs and chickens, or if used for edibles, to collect and store meat pieces samples of wild captured animals. It is, of course, possible to employ the method and apparatus of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. First, a method of collecting and storing a meat piece sample will be described. As shown in a flow sheet of FIG. 1, a meat piece is collected from carcass that has been slaughtered and dismantled as a first step. A piece of meat is used as a sample of lean meat so that DNA can be extracted from the stored sample in the future or bacteria attached thereto can be separated. Therefore, a meat piece of the neck is selected as a portion from which an appropriate amount of lean can be collected relatively easily. Note that the collection site does not need to be strictly limited to the neck. The amount of sample to be collected is not particularly strictly limited, but it must be the minimum required for various tests such as DNA identification and component separation in the future. Generally, one gram per sample will suffice. In addition, the inventors plan a plurality of embodiments of a device for collecting, but this structure will be described later.

  The meat piece sample collected as described above is subsequently transferred to a preservation process. The conditions required for storage are that the sample does not deteriorate or decompose for a predetermined period of time, and if necessary, maintains a state suitable for tests such as extraction of DNA. Suitable examples of storage means for this purpose include low-temperature freezing and drying. Preservation means of immersion in a chemical solution is not excluded, but in this case, it is relatively difficult to preserve the tissue for a long period of time without deterioration. These storage means require a large-scale refrigeration apparatus to be constantly operated in the case of refrigeration, and have problems in equipment and ordinary costs. On the other hand, in the case of storage in a dry state, a configuration capable of maintaining a dry state for each sample is sufficient, so that the equipment will be simpler than in the case of freezing.

  Next, an embodiment of a collecting instrument used when collecting a meat piece sample from carcass in the above-described process will be described. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the meat piece sample is collected from the neck portion of the carcass, but is not limited to this, as described above. Therefore, the specific configuration of an appropriate sampling instrument may vary depending on the sampling method and sampling site.

  A meat piece sample can be collected relatively easily when the lean portion is exposed on the neck surface, and FIG. 2 shows an example of a device suitable for this case. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a container body having a cylindrical bottom, and a desiccant such as silica gel is stored in the container body. Reference numeral 2 denotes a cap having a diameter capable of sealing the opening 1a of the container body 1. The cap 2 is provided with a step 3 in a 180-degree sector shape to form a lower sector 4 and a higher sector 5. The lower sector 4 is provided with a blade 6 having a structure along the inner arc of the cap 2. Numeral 7 is a flat fan-shaped blade holder that can be stored in the lower sector 4. Although the fan shape is set to 180 degrees in this embodiment, the angle is not necessarily limited, and the angle is not limited as long as the meat piece sample can be reliably removed. FIG. 3 shows a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, in which the cap 2 is divided into two parts, and is constituted by a cap body 8 which fulfills an essential function, and a bottomless cylindrical blade accommodating portion 9. This facilitates the assembly in the manufacturing process. If this configuration is adopted, when the meat piece sample is cut off by the cutting tool 6, the sample will have the lower sector 4 functioning as the sample storage portion as it is, and this is sealed to the container body 1. By itself, the desiccant such as silica gel stored in the container body 1 dries the meat piece sample. Therefore, normal temperature storage is possible in this state. Note that the desiccant is not limited to silica gel, and any other composition may be used as long as it does not alter the sample. Further, it is not denied that a preservative is used instead of the desiccant as long as the deterioration of the sample is prevented.

  Subsequently, another embodiment is shown in FIGS. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a container main body, and 12 denotes a lid integrally formed so as to be sealed with the container main body 11 via a hinge 13. An arc portion 14 is provided on the distal end side of the container body 11, and a cutting tool 15 is provided along the inner arc. The blade 15 is stabilized by a blade fan-shaped blade holder 16 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Reference numeral 17 denotes a claw-shaped wall, which is used when the blade 15 is installed. At each corresponding position of the container body 11 and the lid 12, a lid retainer 18 is formed at one or a plurality of locations on the outer periphery so as not to open due to the elasticity of the hinge 13 when the lid 12 is sealed. In this structure, it is sufficient to cut off the meat piece sample with the lid 12 opened as shown in FIG. 5 and then seal the lid 12. Note that a desiccant such as silica gel is stored in the space 19 of the container body 11. If the desiccant can be fixed to the container body 11, it can be provided in advance before cutting the meat piece sample. However, the desiccant is put into the space 19 immediately after sealing the lid 11 after cutting the meat piece sample. Sometimes. After the sample is collected, it is handled in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  Shown below is a further embodiment, in which the device shown in FIG. 6 consists of two separable parts, 21 is a meat sample collection tray, the cutting edge 22 of which is integrally provided at the tip, A knob 23 for supporting with a fingertip is formed at the rear end portion. Reference numeral 24 denotes a capsule for accommodating a meat piece sample, and the opening 25 has a sealing lid 26 provided integrally. The collection tray 21 and the storage capsule 24 are temporarily fixed by a known means such as adhesion. After the meat piece sample is collected, the storage capsule 24 is removed from the collection tray 21, the collection tray 21 is discarded, and only the storage capsule 24 is removed. Target for storage. The tool 22 is preferably made of sharp blade steel or stainless steel in order to surely cut off the meat piece sample, but other components may be made of metal or resin. Does not matter. The only necessary condition is that the storage capsule 24 be made of a material suitable for long-term storage, and there is no need to restrictively interpret it as long as it can satisfy this condition. This instrument is used in such a manner that a meat sample is cut off from the carcass neck surface in a state in which the collecting capsule 21 is provided with the storing capsule 24 integrally therewith, dropped into the storing capsule 24 as it is, and then the storing capsule 24 is removed from the collecting tray 21. Remove and close the lid 26. When the storage means is frozen, the containing capsule 24 is put into the freezing means so that the meat sample does not deteriorate. On the other hand, when the storage means is dry, a desiccant such as silica gel is previously provided inside the storage capsule 24, or a small hole (not shown) is provided in the storage capsule 24 in advance, and the storage capsule 24 is put into a dryer. A step of drying the meat piece sample can be exemplified.

  FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the sampling device. A sampling device 32 is continuously attached to an opening of a bottomed cylindrical storage capsule 31. A cutting tool 34 is provided at the opening front end 33 of the sampling device 32, and the cutting tool 34 cuts a meat piece sample. Reference numeral 35 denotes a lid. After collecting the meat piece sample, the collecting device 32 is removed, and the lid 35 is screwed or pushed in instead of the collecting device 32 to seal the containing capsule 31. In the embodiment, the blade 34 is provided over the entire periphery of the opening front end portion 33. However, the blade 34 may be provided only on a part of the periphery in order to reduce costs, and a straight blade may be bridged on the circumferential portion. What is necessary as the blade 34 is that the meat piece sample can be reliably removed from the carcass, and the shape and the like are not limited as long as this is satisfied. The storage of the meat sample after collection is the same as described in the previous embodiment.

  FIG. 8 shows still another embodiment of the collecting instrument, which is used only for collecting a piece of meat sample and shows a structure in which no containing capsule is provided. In the drawing, 41 is a handle, 42 is a U-shaped or U-shaped blade support provided following the handle 41, and 43 is a blade bridged to the opposite end of the blade support 42. The blade 43 is arch-bridged so that the sample can be easily cut off. Reference numeral 44 denotes a wall provided on the back side of the blade support portion 42, and has a function of holding the meat piece sample cut by the blade 43 so as not to fall off. When using the sampling instrument of this configuration, it is necessary to take out the meat piece sample held by the cutting tool 43 and the wall 44 with an appropriate tool and put it into a separately prepared storage capsule (not shown).

  The collecting device shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 described above has a structure in which a meat piece sample is cut by a cutting tool.

  Next, FIG. 9 et seq. Shows a sampling instrument configured to push or cut a meat piece sample instead of cutting it off with a blade. FIG. 9 shows an example thereof, wherein 51 is a U-shaped or U-shaped base, 52 is a cylinder provided on the upper jaw of the base 51, and 53 is a piston installed inside the cylinder 52. A blade 54 is provided on the tip at the circumference. A ring-shaped seat 55 is provided on the upper part of the cylinder 52 so that the piston 52 is not fitted and the finger is easily hooked. In this configuration, the lean portion of the neck is sandwiched in the space of the base 51, and the meat sample is cut by pushing the piston 52. In this embodiment, a storage capsule is also required separately. The materials constituting these are not particularly limited, but the cutting tool 54 employs cutting tool steel or the like in order to facilitate the cutting. However, a hard resin having a sharp tip may be used as long as it can be cut.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration in which a cutting tool is used to pierce, but also includes a housing capsule. In the figure, 61 is a storage capsule, 62 is a blade provided around the opening of the storage capsule, and 63 is formed so as to be able to slide along the cylindrical direction of the storage capsule 61 and pressurize the blade 62. It is a pressed piece. In this configuration, the cut piece 63 is extended to expose the blade 62, and the cut piece 63 is pushed in such that the lean comes into contact with the blade, and then a meat piece sample is collected by the blade 62, and the sample is collected. The meat piece sample falls into the storage capsule 61 as it is. In addition, the cut-off piece 63 also has a function of a lid for the opening of the storage capsule 61, and after collecting a sample, it is possible to make a closed container simply by pushing the push-off piece 63 securely.

  FIG. 11 shows a body 71 and a lid 72 that can be freely opened and closed integrally by a hinge 73. A blade 74 is provided at the tip of an open portion of the lid 72, which is a modification of the second embodiment. it can. In this configuration, when the lean portion is placed on the body 71 and the lid 72 is closed, the blade 74 pierces the lean and the meat piece sample is stored at the same time as the lid is closed. That is, in the configuration of FIG. 11, the body 71 and the lid 72 function as a storage capsule after the meat piece sample is collected. Subsequent storage is the same as that described in the above embodiments.

  FIG. 12 is a further modified example of the embodiment of FIG. 11, in which the configuration in which the body 81 and the lid 82 are integrated by the hinge 83 does not change, but the blade 84 is provided so as to protrude to one side of the body 81 side. is there. Also in this modified example, the body and the lid constitute the storage capsule simultaneously with the closing of the lid.

  FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment in which a bottomed inner box 92 is slidably housed in an outer box 91, and a cutting tool 93 is attached to an open surface of the inner box 92. Is closed, the lean body is cut by the edge 94 at the open upper end of the outer box 91 and the blade 93, and at the same time, the meat sample is stored in the inner box 92. Therefore, if the relationship between the outer box 91 and the inner box 92 is appropriately set in a sealed state, it is possible to save the state as it is.

  FIG. 14 shows still another embodiment, in which a slit 102 is provided on the tip side of a cap 101, and an arc-shaped blade 103 is inserted and fixed in the slit 102, and further, the slit 102 is inserted inside the arc of the blade 103. A pressing piece 104 that extends in a straight line is provided. In this configuration, one end of the pressing piece 104 is fixed to the slit 102 in a cantilever manner, and the other end is flexible. Therefore, after the blade 103 is sunk into the carcass, the pressing piece 104 is Press and cut off the pieces of meat. This is stored and stored in the same configuration as the container main body shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a modification of FIG. 14, in which a projection 112 formed integrally with the cap is provided on the tip side of the cap 111. A projecting portion 112 is provided with a receiving portion 114 for an arc-shaped blade 113 on the tip side, and a pressing portion 115 at a position corresponding to an inner arc of the blade 113. In this configuration, if the sample is cut off by the blade 113, the sample is held between the blade 113, the pressing portion 115, and the wall surface formed on the back side. In addition, FIG. 16A shows a state where the pressing portion 115 is flexible from the protruding portion 112 via a hinge portion, and FIG. 16B shows a state where the pressing portion 115 is not bent. This usage is basically the same as that of FIG. Then, similarly to the example in FIG. 14, the data is stored in the container body shown in FIG.

  The device of the above-described embodiment has a configuration in which a part is used only for collecting a meat piece sample and the other is used not only for collecting a meat piece sample but also for storage. Affix a label with the history of the meat sample to the containing capsule. If a small IC chip is attached instead of a label, a larger amount of history data can be written, which contributes to the object of the present invention. In addition, if the various containers described above are contaminated with bacteria or the like before the meat piece sample is collected, the reliability of the sample itself is impaired. Therefore, as a usage method, it is preferable that each container is sealed in a synthetic resin pouch or the like and sterilized by gamma ray irradiation, exposure to ethylene oxide gas, or electron beam irradiation before sample collection. The preservation after collection is preferably carried out by an appropriate method so as not to be exposed to bacteria.

  For example, an effective specimen can be provided when a beef or the like is contaminated with BSE, or when the presence or absence of BSE contamination is confirmed later by random sampling. Moreover, the availability is not limited to the BSE test in beef cattle, and can be applied to meat in general.

Flow sheet showing steps of the method of the present invention Overall perspective view according to a first embodiment of the device of the present invention. FIG. Overall perspective view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention. Same overall perspective view of the second embodiment. Overall perspective view of a third embodiment of the device of the present invention. Overall perspective view of a device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Overall perspective view according to a fifth embodiment of the device of the present invention. Overall perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the device of the present invention. Overall perspective view of a device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Overall perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the device of the present invention. Overall perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the device of the present invention. Overall perspective view of a device according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention. Overall perspective view according to an eleventh embodiment of the device of the present invention. Overall perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of the device of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of usage of the twelfth embodiment

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container main body 2 Cap 3 Step 4 Lower sector 5 Higher sector 6 Blade 7 Blade holder 8 Cap body 9 Blade holder

Claims (9)

  A method of collecting and storing a required amount of meat sample from edible food after slaughter and demolition, and storing the collected meat sample for a certain period of time, wherein the collected meat sample is dried prior to the storage process. A method of collecting and storing meat samples for storing dried meat sample.   The method for collecting and storing a meat sample according to claim 1, wherein the meat piece sample is collected from a neck of the carcass of the edible meat.   A meat sample collection and storage device comprising: a blade for collecting a meat sample from a carcass portion; a base provided with the blade; and a meat sample storage capsule detachably attached to the base. .   The meat preservation and storage device for meat samples according to claim 3, wherein the blade body of the blade has a circular arc shape or a circular shape in a vertical section.   The container body has a bottomed cylindrical shape and a cap for sealing the opening of the container body. The container body side of the cap is provided with a step forming two high and low sectors, and the lower sector has a sector shape. A meat sample collection and preservation instrument, wherein a cutting tool is provided in an arc shape along an inner arc of the meat sample.   A container body and a lid integrally provided on the container body via a hinge, an arc portion is provided at a tip end side of the container body, and a blade is provided along an inner arc of the arc portion. An instrument for collecting and storing meat samples.   The meat sample collection and storage device according to claim 6, wherein a pair of claws for preventing opening are provided at positions corresponding to the container body and the lid, respectively.   The meat preservation and storage device for meat samples according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the container body is provided with a storage section for a desiccant or a preservative.   9. The meat sample collection and storage device according to claim 4, wherein a small IC chip is provided in the housing capsule.

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