The production, processing, and marketing ofan adequate supply of fresh, bacteria-free meatat a reasonable price is a constant challenge forthe meat production industry. Contaminationof a carcass during the slaughter andprocessing phase is difficult to avoid. Manypeople can become ill or die if contaminationis not detected and eliminated. A team at theNational Animal Disease Center developed acontamination imaging technology, based onthe properties of laser light, that determinesmeat carcass/product cleanliness in real time.This patented system scans freshly processedmeat without making contact and detectscontamination on the carcass with extremelyhigh sensitivity.The technology transfer process began whenthe team collaborated with Dr. J. W. Petrich ofIowa State University to patent the system. Later, the team, Iowa State University andeMerge Ineractive, Inc. entered into aCRADA, with eMerge Interactive alsolicensing the product. The technology isscheduled to be available for purchase thisyear.The tangible benefits from this technology aremany. By assuring a safer supply of meat, thisinnovative detection system will protect the$94 billion revenue from meat sales; protectthe jobs of 460,000 U.S. meat and poultryworkers; reduce the 9,000 deaths per yearassociated with foodborne illness; and providethe meat industry with a powerful, accurateand reliable new tool to produce a saferproduct.