The role of pork meat traceability and processing along the value chain to ensure meat safety from farm to fork in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa = Iqhaza lokulandelelwa kwenyama yengulube kanye nokucutshungulwa kanjalo nochungechunge lwenani ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuphepha kwenyama ukusuka epulazini iye efolweni esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali, eNingizimu Afrika.

Abstract

Meat safety remains crucial to public health, consumer confidence, and economic sustainability in the livestock sector. This study evaluated the role of meat traceability and processing along the value chain to ensure meat safety from farm to fork in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research investigated key factors influencing meat quality, including on-farm animal management, preslaughter handling, microbiological safety, and consumer perceptions of meat from informal markets. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the study identified contamination risks, and proposed strategies to enhance transparency and accountability within the meat industry. Microbiological analysis, observational studies, and consumer surveys were conducted to determine the influence of farm management, transportation, and slaughterhouse practices on meat safety. The findings highlighted critical contamination points within the supply chain, particularly in feed, water, faeces, and carcass handling. Poor hygiene practices, environmental management, and inadequate biosecurity measures were identified as significant contributors to microbial contamination, including pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus. The study further explored the impact of pre-slaughter stress on meat quality, emphasizing that poor handling, rough transportation conditions, and inadequate animal welfare practices resulted in physiological changes that compromised carcass integrity and increased microbial load. An essential focus of the research was the role of traceability systems in ensuring meat safety. The study revealed that while commercial supply chains have structured monitoring mechanisms, informal meat markets often lack regulatory oversight, making them highly susceptible to contamination and foodborne illnesses. The absence of standardized record-keeping and quality control measures in these markets poses a significant challenge to consumer health and food safety compliance. To address these challenges, the study recommended an overall approach incorporating improved farm management, robust biosecurity protocols, optimized transportation systems, and enhanced slaughterhouse hygiene. Additionally, consumer education and awareness programs are necessary to promote demand for safe meat products and encourage compliance with meat safety regulations. The findings emphasized the need for cost-effective traceability technologies that can be adopted in both formal and informal markets to enhance food safety and consumer confidence. It was concluded that strengthening the meat value chain through the integration of traceability, improved handling practices, and regulatory enforcement is vital for reducing contamination risks and ensuring sustainable meat production. Future research should explore innovative and affordable traceability solutions tailored for small-scale and informal markets, while also investigating alternative strategies to mitigate pre-slaughter stress and microbial contamination. By addressing these factors, the meat industry can enhance resilience, protect public health, and support the economic viability of meat producers and retailers in South Africa and beyond. Overall, this study demonstrates that strengthening the meat value chain through the integration of effective traceability systems, improved management practices, and stronger regulatory enforcement is essential for reducing contamination risks, ensuring meat safety, and promoting consumer confidence. The findings offer valuable guidance for developing practical interventions that can enhance the resilience and sustainability of both formal and informal meat markets in KwaZulu-Natal.

Iqoqa. Ukuphepha kwenyama kuhlala kubalulekile empilweni yomphakathi, ukuzethemba kwabathengi, kanye nokusimama komnotho emkhakheni wemfuyo. Lolu cwaningo luhlolisise indima yokulandelelwa kwenyama kanye nokucutshungulwa kochungechunge lwenani ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuphepha kwenyama kusuka epulazini kuye kwelinye ifolo KwaZulu-Natali, eNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningo luphenye izici ezibalulekile ezehlisa ikhwalithi yenyama, okuhlanganisa ukuphathwa kwezilwane ezisepulazini, ukuphatha ngaphambi kokuhlatshwa, ukuphepha kwe-microbiological, kanye nemibono yabathengi ngenyama evela ezimakethe ezingakahleleki. Ngokwamukela indlela ehlanganisa imikhakha eminingi, ucwaningo lwahlonza ubungozi bokungcoliswa, kanye namasu ahlongozwayo okuthuthukisa ukungafihli kanye nokuziphendulela embonini yenyama. Ukuhlaziywa kwe-Microbiological, izifundo zokubheka, kanye nokuhlolwa kwabathengi kwenziwa ukuze kutholwe umthelela wokuphathwa kwepulazi, ukuthutha, kanye nemikhuba yokubulala ekuphepheni kwenyama. Okutholakele kugqamise amaphuzu abalulekile okungcoliseka ngaphakathi kwe-supply chain, ikakhulukazi ekudleni, emanzini, indle, nasekuphatheni isidumbu. Imikhuba engemihle yenhlanzeko, ukuphathwa kwemvelo, kanye nezinyathelo zokuvikeleka kwemvelo ezinganele kwaphawulwa njengengxenye ebalulekile yokungcoliswa kwamagciwane, okuhlanganisa amagciwane afana ne-Escherichia coli, i-Salmonella, ne-Staphylococcus aureus. Ucwaningo luqhubekile nokuhlola umthelela wokucindezeleka kwangaphambi kokuhlatshwa kwekhwalithi yenyama, kugcizelela ukuthi ukuphathwa kabi, izimo zokuhamba ezimbi, kanye nemikhuba yenhlalakahle yezilwane eyanele kubangele izinguquko zomzimba ezibeka engcupheni ubuqotho besidumbu kanye nokwanda komthwalo wamagciwane. Okwakugxilwe kakhulu kulo ucwaningo kwakuyindima yezinhlelo zokulandeleka ekuqinisekiseni ukuphepha kwenyama. Ucwaningo luqhubekile nokuhlola umthelela wokucindezeleka kwangaphambi kokuhlatshwa kwekhwalithi yenyama, kugcizelela ukuthi ukuphathwa kabi, izimo zokuhamba ezimbi, kanye nemikhuba yenhlalakahle yezilwane eyanele kubangele izinguquko zomzimba ezibeka engcupheni ubuqotho besidumbu kanye nokwanda komthwalo wamagciwane. Okwakugxilwe kakhulu kulo ucwaningo kwakuyindima yezinhlelo zokulandeleka ekuqinisekiseni ukuphepha kwenyama. Ucwaningo luveze ukuthi nakuba amaketanga okuhlinzeka ngezohwebo anezinqubo zokuqapha ezihlelekile, izimakethe zenyama ezingakahleleki zivame ukuntula ukuqondisa okulawulwayo, okuzenza zibe sengozini enkulu yokutheleleka kanye nezifo ezitholakala ekudleni. Ukungabikho kwezinyathelo ezijwayelekile zokugcina amarekhodi kanye nokulawula ikhwalithi kulezi zimakethe kubangela inselele enkulu ekuthotshelweni kwempilo yabathengi kanye nokuphepha kokudla. Ukuze kubhekwane nalezi zinselelo, ucwaningo luncome indlela ephelele ehlanganisa ukuphathwa kwepulazi okuthuthukisiwe, izimiso eziqinile zokuphepha kwemvelo, izinhlelo zokuthutha ezithuthukisiwe, kanye nenhlanzeko ethuthukisiwe yamadela. Ukwengeza, izinhlelo zokufundisa abathengi kanye nokuqwashisa ziyadingeka ukuze kukhuthazwe isidingo semikhiqizo yenyama ephephile futhi kugqugquzelwe ukuhambisana nemithetho yokuphepha kwenyama. Okutholakele kugcizelele isidingo sobuchwepheshe bokulandela umkhondo obungabizi obungamukelwa kuzo zombili izimakethe ezisemthethweni nezingakahleleki ukuthuthukisa ukuphepha kokudla kanye nokuzethemba kwabathengi. Kwaphethwa ngokuthi ukuqinisa uchungechunge lwenani lenyama ngokuhlanganisa ukulandeleka, izinqubo zokuphatha ezithuthukisiwe, kanye nokuqiniswa kwemithetho kubalulekile ekwehliseni ubungozi bokungcola kanye nokuqinisekisa ukukhiqizwa kwenyama okuqhubekayo. Ucwaningo lwangomuso kufanele luhlole izixazululo ezintsha nezithengekayo zokulandeleka ezenzelwe izimakethe ezincane nezingakahleleki, kanti futhi luphenya amanye amasu okunciphisa ingcindezi yangaphambi kokuhlaba kanye nokungcoliswa kwamagciwane. Ngokubhekana nalezi zici, imboni yenyama ingathuthukisa ukuqina, ivikele impilo yomphakathi, futhi yeseke ukuqina kwezomnotho kwabakhiqizi benyama nabadayisi eNingizimu Afrika nangale kwayo. Sekukonke, lolu cwaningo lubonisa ukuthi ukuqinisa uchungechunge lwenani lenyama ngokuhlanganiswa kwezinhlelo ezisebenzayo zokulandela umkhondo, izindlela zokuphatha ezithuthukisiwe, kanye nokuqiniswa okuqinile kokulawula kubalulekile ekunciphiseni izingozi zokungcola, ukuqinisekisa ukuphepha kwenyama, kanye nokukhuthaza ukuzethemba kwabathengi. Okutholakele kunikeza isiqondiso esibalulekile sokuthuthukisa ukungenelela okungokoqobo okungathuthukisa ukuqina nokuzinza kwazo zombili izimakethe zenyama ezisemthethweni nezingekho emthethweni KwaZulu-Natali.