Microbial cross-contamination during air chilling of poultry.
1. Cross-contamination during air chilling of poultry carcases was investigated using a nalidixic acid-resistant strain of Escherichia coli K12 as a marker organism. 2. Experiments were carried out on 2 types of commercial chiller, with and without the use of water sprays (evaporative cooling), and a pilot-scale chiller in which conditions could be varied as required. 3. In the commercial chillers, the marker was dispersed in all directions from a single inoculated carcase and transmission was increased by the use of chlorinated water sprays. 4. Similar results were obtained with the pilot-scale chiller, where the marker was recovered from 45/54 uninoculated carcases; cross-contamination was not prevented by spraying carcases with water containing 50 mg/l of free available chlorine. 5. Despite the ease of microbial transmission from inoculated carcases, cross-contamination during air chilling is likely to be less than that occurring at earlier stages of poultry processing, when carcases are more heavily contaminated.
Mead
G C
GC
Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Potters Bar, England, UK.
Allen
V M
VM
Burton
C H
CH
Corry
J E
JE
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D010865:Pilot Projects