Process control and sampling for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef trimmings.
Raw beef producers currently face the problem of Escherichia coli O157:H7 surface contamination of beef carcasses that can lead to product adulteration. Although carcass interventions are in place, elimination of E. coli O157:H7 from every potential hiding place on the surfaces of a beef carcass is not technologically feasible. Therefore, E. coli O157:H7 on beef carcasses might further contaminate the surfaces of beef trimmings. With the use of case scenarios from nine commercial processing facilities, we present a process control and statistical sampling approach for monitoring beef trimmings to divert contaminated lots of the trimmings from the raw ground beef supply chain.
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA. rymurph@uark.edu
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Murphy
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Seward
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000592:standards*; D006920:Hygiene; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*