Study on presence/absence of central nervous tissues as BSE specified risk material in processed and raw meat products in Japan

Various countries including Japan issued the complete removal of brain and spinal cord (SC) tissues from meat products due to BSE risk factor. In this study using commercially available Ridascreen® risk material test kit, we tried to evaluate the efficiency of removing specific risk material (SRM) from meat products. Brain and SC tissues were added to grind meats in different concentrations and respective absorption values were obtained using Ridascreen® test kit. The kit detected both brain and SC at 0.1%, below its claimed sensitivity level, for brain and SC combined. Thus, using this commercial test kit, we tested cross-section of samples sold in Obihiro area, Japan. In the test standard controls 0, 0.2%, 1% and 2% were practiced. All most all the tested samples absorption values near to standard 0, and it is concluded that all the samples that we tested were absence or at a very minimal levels of SRM.