Enhancing poultry food safety: Advanced detection of visible and invisible fecal contamination on chicken carcasses using multispectral fluorescence imaging and machine learning to mitigate Salmonella risks

Authors: BLACK, MICAH - Auburn University; GUZMAN, LUIS - Auburn University; SIBBIQUE, AFTAB - Fort Valley State University; SIERRA, KATHERINE - Auburn University; TASHIGUANO, VIANCA - Auburn University; GARNER, LAURA - Auburn University; MACKINNON, NICHOLAS - Safetyspect Inc; SOKOLOV, STANISLOV - Safetyspect Inc; VASEFI, FARTASH - Safetyspect Inc; Qin, Jianwei; Chan, Diane; Baek, Insuck; Chao, Kuanglin; Kim, Moon; MOREY, AMIT - Auburn University

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2025
Publication Date: 9/3/2025
Citation: Black, M., Guzman, L., Sibbique, A., Sierra, K., Tashiguano, V., Garner, L., Mackinnon, N., Sokolov, S., Vasefi, F., Qin, J., Chan, D.E., Baek, I., Chao, K., Kim, M.S., Morey, A. 2025. Enhancing poultry food safety: Advanced detection of visible and invisible fecal contamination on chicken carcasses using multispectral fluorescence imaging and machine learning to mitigate Salmonella risks. Journal of Food Protection. 88(10). Article e10063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100613.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100613

Interpretive Summary: Salmonella is a significant foodborne pathogen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Salmonella causes more foodborne illnesses than any other bacteria. The pathogen is primarily associated with the consumption of raw and undercooked poultry. The presence of fecal matter on poultry carcass increases Salmonella food safety risks of raw poultry and hence it is important that carcasses with fecal contamination be accurately detected. In this study, we investigated the use of the handheld multispectral fluorescence imaging technology combined with machine learning methods to detect fecal matter on poultry carcasses. Results indicated that fluorescence imaging combined with machine learning models can detect fecal contamination on poultry carcasses. These results are expected to provide a new approach for detection of fecal contamination on chicken carcasses which will benefit the poultry processing industry and the USDA FSIS to further investigate novel technologies to improve food safety of raw poultry products and reduce food safety risks for the consumers.

Technical Abstract: Salmonella, mainly associated with raw poultry, remains a major food safety concern as the number of illnesses have not reduced over the past decade warranting a need for convergent, disruptive approaches. In poultry processing plants, the USDA-FSIS implements a “zero visible fecal tolerance” policy on eviscerated broiler carcasses entering the chiller as a step to reduce the pathogen. We assessed the efficacy of multispectral fluorescence imaging technology to detect visible and invisible fecal matter from different sections of the gastrointestinal tract aiming to enhance automation in processing plants. Results indicated that multispectral imaging combined with data analytics can detect fecal contamination on carcasses but cannot distinguish between fecal sources. The most significant finding was the ability to detect fecal contamination invisible to the naked eye and those spots were positive for Salmonella warranting changes in existing practices of detecting fecal matter and rinsing-off carcasses to reduce the pathogen load. To our knowledge, this is the first report to detect invisible fecal contamination on broiler carcasses. Accidental finding of Salmonella on post-chilled carcasses due to abrasive action of swabs indicates a need to improve Salmonella sampling methods in the poultry industry. Improvement over the existing poultry Salmonella sample collection method may provide a better understanding of the levels of Salmonella on raw poultry and aid in developing measures to reduce the pathogen. Validation of laboratory results at a processing facility provides a cue for wider investigation. The research provides next steps to the USDA-FSIS and the poultry industry to investigate modern technologies as well as enhance practices to reduce Salmonella in poultry and fend public health.