{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T05:25:29Z","timestamp":1765862729177,"version":"3.48.0"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"24","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]],"date-time":"2025-12-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765584000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003196","name":"Italian Ministry of Health","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["J19I24000810006"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["J19I24000810006"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003196","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Mechanically separated meat (MSM) is a product of animal origin obtained by applying mechanical force to remove residual meat from bones, a process that results in the loss or modification of muscle fiber structure. Its use is regulated in the European Union. Clearly distinguishing MSM from non-MSM is essential not only to maintain high product standards but also to ensure full compliance with food labeling regulations and to meet consumer expectations for transparency. This study aimed to evaluate a standardized histological protocol for differentiating high-pressure MSM, low-pressure MSM, and non-MSM pork meat using light microscopy, combined with image analysis and statistical evaluation. In total 40 MSM samples (20 high-pressure, 20 low-pressure) and 20 non-MSM samples were analyzed. The histological protocol achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing MSM from non-MSM. Image analysis revealed significant differences between high- and low-pressure MSM in calcium aggregate parameters. The method provides a reliable, cost-effective tool for MSM identification in routine food inspection. However, because the study was conducted exclusively on pork samples, the results should be interpreted within the context of this type of meat. Additional validation across other species and production systems is required to confirm the broader applicability of the method.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods14244295","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,15]],"date-time":"2025-12-15T15:15:08Z","timestamp":1765811708000},"page":"4295","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Microscopy and Image Analysis-Based Identification of High- and Low-Pressure Mechanically Separated Pork Meat"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9530-9016","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marzia","family":"Pezzolato","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Biasibetti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2861-6432","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesco","family":"Pennisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7203-4395","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanna","family":"Esposito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-2560-193X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Riccardo","family":"Provera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-7926-4516","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nunzia","family":"Giaccio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3481-8380","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cristiana","family":"Maurella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Bozzetta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istopatologia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d\u2019Aosta Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"#cr-split#-ref_1.1","unstructured":"European Commission (2004). Regulation"},{"key":"#cr-split#-ref_1.2","unstructured":"(EC) No 853\/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin. Off. J. Eur. Union, L139, 55-205."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"FEFAC (2025, August 12). DG AGRI. Feed and Food Statistical Yearbook 2024. Available online: https:\/\/fefac.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/FF_2024_FINAL.pdf."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Food Standards Agency (FSA) (2025, August 12). New Guidance on Mechanically Separated Meat. Available online: https:\/\/euagenda.eu\/news\/885421."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"13289","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-64247-6","article-title":"Prevalence of consumption of mechanically separated meat, consumer profile, nutrient intake and food choices among manufacturing workers in Northeastern Brazil","volume":"14","author":"Costa","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"109687","article-title":"Use of Harmonised Epidemiological Indicators for E. coli Monitoring in MSM and Meat Preparations","volume":"150","author":"Langkabel","year":"2023","journal-title":"Food Control"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) (2024). The European Union One Health 2023 Zoonoses Report. EFSA J., 22, e09106.","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2024.9106"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1574-6968.2008.01084.x","article-title":"High-pressure processing\u2014Effects on microbial food safety and food quality","volume":"281","author":"Considine","year":"2008","journal-title":"FEMS Microbiol. Lett."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"German Agricultural Society (DLG) (2022). Detection Challenges for Mechanically Separated Meat. DLG Expert Rep., 4, 1\u20136."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128907","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2020.128907","article-title":"Identification and investigation of mechanically separated meat with an innovative ultrasonic method","volume":"348","author":"Wieja","year":"2021","journal-title":"Food Chem."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"EFSA BIOHAZ Panel (2013). Scientific Opinion on Public Health Hazards Related to MSM Detection. EFSA J., 11, 3137."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al-Sharify, Z.T., Al-Najjar, S.Z., Anumudu, C.K., Hart, A., Miri, T., and Onyeaka, H. (2025). Non-Thermal Technologies in Food Processing: Implications for Food Quality and Rheology. Appl. Sci., 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/app15063049"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sun, Q., Yuan, Y., Xu, B., Gao, S., Zhai, X., Xu, F., and Shi, J. (2025). Innovative Technologies Reshaping Meat Industrialization: Challenges and Opportunities in the Intelligent Era. Foods, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods14132230"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Janardhanan, R., Olarte, C., Sanz, S., Rota, C., and Beriain, M.J. (2023). Combined Effect of High Hydrostatic Pressure, Sous-Vide Cooking, and Carvacrol on the Quality of Veal, Plant-Based, and Hybrid Patties during Storage. Foods, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12020289"},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Ghimpeteanu, G., Rajani, H., Quintana, J., and Garcia, R. (2025). Hyperspectral Imaging with Vision Transformers for Contaminant Detection on Pork Belly. arXiv."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"652","DOI":"10.1007\/s12161-018-1394-8","article-title":"An Innovative Detection of Mechanically Separated Meat in Meat Products","volume":"12","author":"Pospiech","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Anal. Methods"}],"container-title":["Foods"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-8158\/14\/24\/4295\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,16]],"date-time":"2025-12-16T05:20:44Z","timestamp":1765862444000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2304-8158\/14\/24\/4295"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"24","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["foods14244295"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/foods14244295","relation":{},"ISSN":["2304-8158"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2304-8158"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]]}}}