Join CAT Squared's Jack Teague for his IPPE TECHTalk presentation Assessing a Business's Readiness for Smart Automation and Winning Stakeholder Support. The presentation will feature three main objectives:

New FDA traceability requirements are effective January 20, 2023. The FSMA Final Rule: Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods includes a requirement for those who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the Food Traceability List (FTL) to establish and maintain records containing Key Data Elements (KDEs) associated with different Critical Tracking Events (CTEs). The FDA notes that while the proposed requirements only apply to those foods on the FTL, “they were designed to be suitable for all FDA-regulated food products. FDA would encourage the voluntary adoption of these practices industrywide.”

If you’re a protein processor that has yet to take a significant step into the world of Industry 4.0, you're not alone. Globally, 90 percent of manufacturing companies are Digital Novices, Followers, or Innovators, and less than one-third are well-advanced on their digital journey. If you are just starting out, here are five practical steps to help meat and poultry processors improve manufacturing performance by digitizing their plant floor operations with Industry 4.0 technology.

Last Chance to save $100 off the Registration Price

The theme of this year's User Summit is Accelerating Continuous Improvement by Applying Industry 4.0 to Protein Production. CAT Squared along with our CTB sister companies are building a fully integrated platform that enables smart-manufacturing concepts such as the application of AI and machine learning to manufacturing processes. Several keynote presentations will demonstrate how these Industry 4.0 principles are being applied to meat and poultry processing.

The CAT Squared User Summit is designed to add value to food production operations by sharing best practices in the industry for adopting new technology in manufacturing processes. This year's Summit will be hosted at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain. The Institute provides an inspiring, secluded, historic setting to learn, connect, and innovate. This year's theme is Accelerating Continuous Improvement by Applying Industry 4.0 to Protein Production. Here are the top five reasons meat and poultry processors should attend the User Summit:

CAT Squared has been named a finalist for the 34th Annual Arkansas Business of the Year Awards, which recognizes the state’s top businesses, nonprofits, and executives.

The August 2021 Journal of Food Protection featured a research article from CAT Squared Implementation Specialist Sheridan Brewer.

Brewer was part of a research team from the University of Georgia that investigated the viability of foodborne pathogens and changing microbial community dynamics in the popular fermented beverage, kombucha. Results were collected using four different home kombucha-brewing kits over at least two 14-day trials of fermentation period for each kit brand. The different microbiota groups, including Lactobacillus spp., which are often recognized as the probiotic cultures in kombucha, surmounted a large population by the third day of fermentation and stabilized after that. The foodborne pathogens studied – Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli – were, surprisingly, able to survive in small numbers ( < 10 -100 CFUs/mL) to the end of a 14-day fermentation period in some kits. However, on average, both pathogens demonstrated a 5-log reduction or greater in population numbers by day 10 of the fermentation period. A 5-log reduction (death of 100,000+ cells/mL) of pathogens is the same standard applied to juice products in HACCP guidance from the U.S. FDA, which could be considered a reasonable standard to apply to this same raw, unpasteurized product.

Overall, researchers determined the indigenous microbiota (“probiotics”) in the beverage did not play a strong role in influencing the survival of any pathogens, but instead, survival was strongly influenced by changes in pH (increase in acidity). The type of base tea used to brew kombucha did play a significant role in the survival of pathogens; kombucha brewed from an oolong/black tea mix demonstrated the most rapid reduction in pathogens as opposed to kombucha brewed with green tea. Lastly, strict hygienic practices were recommended for the preparation of the fermented beverage because the combination of sugar content, water activity level, and gradual change in pH in kombucha fermentation were able to provide a perfect storm for the development and survival of some acid-resistant pathogens.

"CAT Squared wants to congratulate Sheridan on his great accomplishment," said CAT Squared CEO Vernon Smith. "We're proud to have such a driven, talented mind on our team."

Please join the CAT Squared family in celebrating Stef’s well-earned retirement. Stefan Schoeman cofounded CAT Squared in 1995 with the late Mike Sardinha and our current CEO Vernon Smith.