Comparison of microbial counts on beef carcasses by using the moist-swab contact method and secondary tissue removal technique.
When a tissue removal rinse technique was compared to the moist-swab contact method, significantly greater numbers of bacteria were recovered from beef carcasses, especially when the flora exceeded log10 4.5/6.45 cm2. Secondary treatment of the removed surface tissue by blending resulted in a significantly greater number of bacteria being recovered than when the same sample was swabbed and/or rinsed. Data indicate that blending of the carcass surface tissue provides a more representative value of the true microbial flora.
D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002417:Cattle; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008460:Meat