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.
Murphy
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Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA. rymurph@uark.edu
Seward
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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*