Can AI Save the Field of Meat Hygiene Inspection?

In Japan, all food animals destined for the consumer’s table must undergo hygiene inspection by veterinarians. However, there is a regional disparity in the distribution of veterinarians, and many local governments are currently facing a shortage of public veterinary officers.

In this context, image diagnostic technologies utilizing Computer Vision Systems (CVS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are attracting attention as potential support systems for meat and poultry inspections, including ante-mortem and post-mortem examinations. These technologies are expected to help alleviate the workload of inspection veterinarians.

Our research group, supported by a scientific research grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, is currently evaluating the feasibility of applying CVS/AI technologies to meat and poultry inspections in Japan. By demonstrating the potential of these technologies to assist veterinarians in their inspections, we aim to move forward with a feasibility study for system development and implementation.

If a supportive system for meat inspection can be developed based on the technological foundation established through this research, it could lead to multiple improvements in the current meat inspection system. These include reducing the burden on veterinarians, standardizing inspection procedures, and creating opportunities to implement initiatives aimed at adding further value to meat inspection.

Furthermore, the digitization and integrated management of information across livestock production, slaughtering, and distribution could pave the way for a comprehensive meat hygiene management system “from farm to table.” The time saved by reducing the workload at slaughterhouses could be reallocated to high-level inspections, such as those for pathogens or chemical substances, or to initiatives that use inspection data to support hygiene management at the production level. These efforts may enhance the societal value of veterinary work performed by public veterinary officers.

Additionally, time gained through workload reduction could be used for research and investigation activities, potentially leading to more attractive opportunities that draw veterinary students toward careers in public health.