Application of optical technologies in the US poultry slaughter facilities for the detection of poultry carcase condemnation.

1. This article reviews the studies on optical technologies for automated poultry carcase inspection, discusses challenges and potential solutions in their real-time applications in poultry slaughter facilities. 2. Over the past few decades, extensive research has been underway to develop an optical technology-based machine vision system for automated inspection of poultry carcases and viscera. Such an automated technology will not only aid in carcase inspection to maximise food safety, but it will also support the U.S. New Poultry Inspection System's aim to foster innovation in poultry processing as well as increase line speed. 3. Many earlier studies based on visible and near-infrared spectroscopy showed promise, but could not be implemented successfully in an on-line poultry processing plant. Currently, multi- and hyper-spectral imaging-based machine vision systems have shown promising outcomes. 5. The critical hurdles for real-time application of automated imaging technology in poultry carcase inspection include high-speed processing lines, slaughter facilities environment and variation in broiler rearing practices. Therefore, further improvement in imaging and machine vision technologies based on physiochemical properties on poultry carcases, the establishment of more technology friendly inspection station, and an integrated data management for different rearing practices are essential to overcome those hurdles.