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Meat and Poultry Processing Standards

Download the Meat and Poultry Processing Standards Manual (V4)

The Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processors Scheme is part of the Red Tractor Food Assurance Scheme assuring food safety, animal welfare, hygiene environmental protection through every part of the food chain.

The Standards provide clear and credible assurance for all and should be read in conjunction with the Member Rules which all members are bound by.

PORK QUALITY Version 4.0

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MP.PQ.1 MP.PQ.2 MP.PQ.3 MP.PQ.4 MP.PQ.5 MP.PQ.6 MP.PQ.7 MP.PQ.8 MP.PQ.9 MP.PQ.10 MP.PQ.11 MP.PQ.12 MP.PQ.13 MP.PQ.14 MP.PQ.15 MP.PQ.16 MP.PQ.17 MP.PQ.18 MP.PQ.19 MP.PQ.20
Glossary

Key – Those standards which have greater significance (all other standards are normal)

Recommendation – Those which do not affect certification

New – A completely new standard which the member must now adhere to

Revised – A standard that has changed and requires the member to take some different or additional action to before

Upgraded – The standard has been upgraded to a Key standard or from a Recommendation to a full standard

Appendix – Referenced in ‘How you will be measured’. Indicates that additional information is provided in the Appendices, which are available at the end of each section.

R This icon indicates that a record is required.

MP.PQ.1

Red Tractor Assured pork must only derive from eligible pigs

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.1.a

Assured pork derives from Red Tractor assured pigs (or assured to a Red Tractor recognised scheme i.e. QMS)

MP.PQ.1.b

Meat from Red Tractor Assured sows (or QMS assured) is not used for Red Tractor Assured pork, but may be used for sausages and other comminuted products

MP.PQ.2

Red Tractor Assured pork derives from carcases meeting the required quality attributes

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.2.a

The carcase is clean and free from extraneous matter

MP.PQ.2.b

The carcase is free from blemish, bruising, hair, cuts and loose skin

MP.PQ.2.c

Rind-on cuts derived from carcases: - free from hair, cuts and loose skin - with a maximum rind side blemish score of 2 on the AHDBs 5 point scale

MP.PQ.2.d

The P2 measurement does not exceed 16mm or the combined P1+P2 does not exceed 32mm; or scanned carcases have a measured lean of 52% or more

MP.PQ.2.e

The carcase cold weight does not exceed 105kg, except in the case of gilt carcases used for sausage and other comminuted products

MP.PQ.3

Red Tractor Assured offal derives from carcases meeting the required quality attributes, with the exception of weight

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.3.a

The specification in PQ.2 is met, with the exception of carcase weight

MP.PQ.4

Red Tractor Assured pork derives from pork meeting the required quality attributes

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.4.a

The fat is firm and white

MP.PQ.4.b

The muscle is firm and of good colour

MP.PQ.4.c

The muscle and fat show no sign of bruising and blood splash

MP.PQ.4.d

Pork is clean, free of stickiness and any off-odour or other indication of poor quality (including PSE and DFD)

MP.PQ.4.e

Primals and cuts are separated by clean cuts and are free from unnecessary cuts

MP.PQ.4.f

Primals and cuts are free from loose glands such as lymphatic nodes, loose skin and other extraneous matter

MP.PQ.5

Quality specifications must be agreed with the site’s customers, documented and followed

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.5.a

Specifications in place for pork primals, foodservice and retail packs of pork

MP.PQ.5.b

Specifications outline the parameters to be achieved including, as a minimum, the scheme criteria

MP.PQ.5.c

Specification formally agreed between the supplier and customer
R

Specifications

MP.PQ.6

Red Tractor Assured pork must meet the required microbial specification (Revised)

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.6.a

Target Upper Action Limit Aerobic colony count (ACC) <1 x 104 cfu/ g 1 x 106 cfu/ g Where microbiological results are above the upper action limit, there is evidence that these are subject to trend analysis and where ongoing issues are found, the root cause is investigated, and corrective action taken

MP.PQ.7

The site must have systems in place to monitor carcases and pork products against specifications and the scheme’s quality requirements (Revised)

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.7.a

System includes a visual inspection: - of a sample of bought-in product at intake (including inter-company transfers) - of all bought in product before cutting and further processing - of all products at specified points on the production line - of finished products

MP.PQ.7.b

System includes microbiological testing to a risk assessed schedule: - frequency is dependent on risks (e.g. frequency of deliveries, microbial results and previous performance)

MP.PQ.7.c

System includes organoleptic sampling of finished products of pork against customers specifications, for tenderness, succulence, flavour and visual appearance

MP.PQ.7.d

The system is documented and trained staff deliver its requirements
R

Schedules and results

MP.PQ.8

Carcases and pork products not meeting the quality attributes must not be used in the production of Red Tractor Assured pork products, unless specific exemptions apply

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.8.a

Exemptions include: - overweight gilt carcases being suitable for the production of Red Tractor Assured sausages and other comminuted products - the offal of overweight carcases being suitable for being described as Red Tractor Assured offal

MP.PQ.8.b

Other, non-conforming products are handled in accordance with documented procedures and where applicable a root cause analysis undertaken and corrective action implemented

MP.PQ.9

Carcases must be scalded, de-haired (singed and/ or scraped as required), to produce a firm, clean and undamaged rind

MP.PQ.10

Pork and trim products must be labelled with kill date

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.10.a

Primals packed in modified atmosphere packaging or vacuum packed are labelled as such, with a durability date or code

MP.PQ.10.b

Pork mince may carry multiple kill dates

MP.PQ.11

Chilled fresh pork must be processed within kill +7 days unless specific exemptions apply

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.11.a

Vacuum packed, gas flushed or deep chilled products may be processed after 7 days, provided the temperature does not exceed 3 degrees and given satisfactory documentary support that quality is not compromised

MP.PQ.11.b

If the product temperature has been disturbed and exceeded 5C, the pork is processed within 4 days

MP.PQ.11.c

Kill dates (as labelled on the product) is used to establish durability dates

MP.PQ.12

Any meat to be frozen before processing must be in good condition, effectively packaged and placed into a freezer within 4 days of slaughter

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.12.a

Date of entry into the freezer is applied

MP.PQ.12.b

Where frozen, the meat is in good condition and effectively packaged at the time of freezing

MP.PQ.12.c

Vacuum packed or gas flushed or deep chilled products may be processed after 4 days, provided the temperature does not exceed 3 degrees and there is satisfactory documentary support that quality is not compromised

MP.PQ.13

Systems must be in place to ensure that frozen pork and trim is used within 12 months of freezing

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.13.a

System includes applying a date of freezing to each unit and a durability date, and having an effective stock control system

MP.PQ.14

Carcases must be transferred to temperature controlled environments without delay

MP.PQ.15

Carcases in chillers must be managed in such a way to encourage cooling and reduce condensation

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.15.a

Carcase sides are spaced to allow airflow around the carcases

MP.PQ.15.b

Carcase bunching is avoided

MP.PQ.15.c

Hot and completely chilled carcases are not stored in the same chiller, unless hot carcases have passed through an in-line blast chill or there is evidence that the process is not compromising the safety and quality of meat already chilled

MP.PQ.16

Carcases and products are chilled to required temperatures, in accordance with planned chilling regimes

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.16.a

The chilling regime is designed to ensure that the deep muscle temperature (when measured within the leg), does not fall below 10°C during the first 3 hours from the commencement of the cooling cycle

MP.PQ.16.b

Within 24 hours of cooling to 10°C, or before the pork is cut or processed, the deep musculature is reduced to between -2˚C and +5˚C. All pork products (including finished product) are held between -2˚C and +5˚C

MP.PQ.17

Pork products (including finished product) and trim must be stored at between -2°C and +5°C for fresh product and at -12°C or below for frozen products

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.17.a

The operational capability of the temperature control system is such that the required temperatures are achieved under maximum load

MP.PQ.17.b

Systems are in place to minimise the ingress of warm air e.g. strip curtains

MP.PQ.18

The defrosting of frozen pork and trim must be managed to ensure the outer surface does not exceed +7°C during the defrosting period

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.18.a

Defrosting undertaken in a controlled manner

MP.PQ.18.b

Records of the defrosting dates, times and product temperatures are kept
R

Defrosting records

MP.PQ.19

Temperatures must be regularly monitored in accordance with documented procedures (Revised)

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.19.a

Temperatures of both chill stores and products monitored in accordance with a risk assessed schedule

MP.PQ.19.b

Incoming product temperatures are checked before accepting the delivery (i.e. on the delivery vehicle).

MP.PQ.19.c

Chilled pork does not fall outside of the range of -2°C to+5°C and is brought into the preparation room progressively as needed

MP.PQ.19.d

Checks are undertaken at different points within the storage unit, both between packs for packed product and product core temperatures on other products

MP.PQ.19.e

Carcase temperatures measured using a probe into the deep musculature of the hindquarter and/ or forequarter

MP.PQ.19.f

Records of temperature monitoring kept
R

Schedule, monitoring records

MP.PQ.20

Where temperature monitoring identifies non-conforming products, the root cause is identified and the product dealt with appropriately

How you will be measured

MP.PQ.20.a

Corrective actions are implemented where appropriate

MP.PQ.20.b

A record of the root cause and corrective actions is kept
R

Corrective actions


More Standards

Beef & Lamb

Chicken

Crops & Sugar Beet

Dairy

Dairy Goats

Ducks

Fresh Produce

Pigs

Turkeys
Print this page
Download the Meat and Poultry Processing Standards Manual (V4)

The Red Tractor Meat and Poultry Processors Scheme is part of the Red Tractor Food Assurance Scheme assuring food safety, animal welfare, hygiene environmental protection through every part of the food chain.

The Standards provide clear and credible assurance for all and should be read in conjunction with the Member Rules which all members are bound by.