The Art Behind the Mark: Understanding Meat Marking Pencils

The Fine Details in Our Industry Make ALL the Difference

Meat marking pencils have been essential in the meat processing industry for many years. These pencils are specifically designed to mark meat products to enhance traceability and improve food safety. 

The practice of marking meat dates back to the early 1900s when the US government first introduced the Federal Meat Inspection Act. 

This act was established to protect consumers from unsanitary and unsafe meat products and required all meat products to be inspected and marked for identification purposes.

Progression – Where We Are Today

Meat marking pencils have since become a crucial component of the meat processing industry, enabling meat processors to mark products with important information such as the date of production, sell-by date, and weight. 

This information provides crucial data that can be used to trace products back to their source in case of a recall or a food safety issue.

They are used to distinguish between different grades of meat, such as:

• Prime
• Choice
• Select

This helps ensure that consumers receive the quality of meat they expect and provides critical information to the end user. 

Marking pencils have played an essential role in the meat processing industry for many years and will continue to do so.

Their Role Through the Chain

They are used throughout the meat processing chain, from the slaughterhouse to the retail store. 

In the slaughterhouse, pencils are used to mark the carcasses with and inspection number. 

This information is used to track the product throughout the processing chain and to ensure its safety.

Once the meat is processed, the marking pencils are used to label the cuts of meat with important information, such as what we have just covered. 

This information is important for inventory tracking, quality control, and traceability.

Retail stores also use them to label packaged meat products with important information such as the expiration date, weight, and price. Proper labelling of meat products ensures that consumers have access to all the necessary information to make informed decisions about their purchases.

In short, they are an important tool used throughout the meat processing chain to ensure food safety, traceability, and quality control.

Skills and Training – For a Pencil? – YES

To use them effectively, meat processors require high skill and technique. 

Accurate and legible marking is essential, and meat processors must be trained to use the pencils correctly. They must have a good understanding of the information that needs to be marked on the meat and be able to comply with the regulations and standards for meat labelling.

Potential Contamination

In addition to technical skills, good hygiene practices are critical when using meat marking pencils. Meat processors must ensure that the pencils are clean and sanitised before and after each use to prevent contamination of the meat. 

They must also ensure that the pencils are stored properly when not in use and that they are using the correct type of pencil for the specific application.

Meat marking pencils require specialised knowledge and expertise. For example, different types of pencils are used for different types of meat, with some pencils being better suited for marking on fatty meat than others. 

The UK

In the UK, meat processors are required to comply with strict guidelines for meat labelling and traceability. While no specific qualifications are required for using meat marking pencils, meat processors must receive training in correctly handling and using the pencils and the regulations and standards for meat labelling. 

This training includes knowledge of the different types of pencils, their applications, and the requirements for meat labelling.

Are All Pencils Made Equal?

NO, different meat marking pencils are used for different types of cattle and different parts of cattle. 

For example, different marking pencils are used to mark beef, pork, and lamb products. This is because the different types of meat have different characteristics and require different types of pencils to ensure that the markings are clear and legible.

In addition, different parts of the animal require different types of pencils. 

Marking pencils used for lean meat products are different from those used for fatty meat products. This is because the fat in the meat can cause the ink to smear or run, making the markings illegible. 

Therefore, specialised pencils are used for marking fatty meat products to ensure that the markings are clear and legible.

The type of pencil used for marking meat products may also vary depending on the product’s intended use, such as whether it is intended for processing or for direct sale to consumers.

SUMMARY

The use of specialised meat marking pencils is critical to ensuring that meat products are accurately and legibly marked with important information such as the date of production, sell-by date, weight, and inspection number. The use of the correct type of pen is essential to ensure that the markings are clear and legible and to prevent contamination of the meat products. It might sound irrelevant in the bigger scheme of things, but everyone in the industry knows their vital role. Always look for quality over quantity. You can’t cut corners in this industry.