The effect of refrigerated and frozen storage on populations of mesophilic and coliform bacteria on fresh broiler chicken carcasses.
Experiments were conducted to determine whether lots of broiler chicken carcasses analyzed at Day 0 or subjected to various refrigeration or freezing temperatures could be microbiologically differentiated using impedance microbiological methods. Sixty ready-to-cook broiler chicken carcasses were collected from a processing facility and used in each of three replicate trials. For each trial, 10 carcasses each were: sampled immediately (Day 0 control), sampled after holding at 3 C for 13 d (Refrigerated control), sampled after holding at 0 C for 12 d and tempering at 3 C for 24 h (Refrigerated 0), sampled after holding at -3.9 C for 12 d and tempering at 3 C for 24 h (Frozen -3.9), sampled after holding at -7.8 C for 12 d and tempering at 3 C for 24 h (Frozen -7.8), and sampled after holding at -27.0 C for 12 d and tempering at 3 C for 24 h (Frozen -27). Carcasses were sampled using a whole carcass rinse procedure. Mesophilic impedance detection times (MDT) and coliform impedance detection times (CDT) at 42 C were conducted in duplicate on each carcass rinse. Lots of carcasses held at 0 C or below had significantly fewer mesophiles than those held at 3 C. The MDT would be suitable for distinguishing carcasses held at 0 C or below from those held at 3 C. Using CDT, lots of carcasses frozen at -7.8 or -27.0 C could be distinguished from lots analyzed at Day 0 or held at 0 or 3 C. Using CDT, lots of carcasses frozen at -3.9 could not be separated from those held at 3 C, but could be distinguished from those held at 0 C. Monitoring coliforms using impedance would be useful for identifying lots of carcasses subjected to temperatures of -7.8 C or below but would not be suitable for determining freezing temperature.
Russell
S M
SM
Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-2772, USA.
D000818:Animals; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D005511:Food Handling / Q000592:standards*; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005628:Frozen Foods / Q000592:standards*; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*