Validation of individual and multiple-sequential interventions for reduction of microbial populations during processing of poultry carcasses and parts.
Changes in aerobic plate counts (APC), total coliform counts (TCC), Escherichia coli counts (ECC), and Salmonella incidence on poultry carcasses and parts and in poultry processing water were evaluated. Bacterial counts were estimated before and after individual interventions and after poultry carcasses were exposed to multiple-sequential interventions at various stages during the slaughter process. Individual and multiple-sequential interventions were evaluated at three processing plants: (i) plant A (New York wash, postevisceration wash, inside-outside bird washes 1 and 2, chlorine dioxide wash, chlorine dioxide wash plus chlorine chiller, chiller exit spray, and postchiller wash), (ii) plant B (New York wash, inside-outside bird washes 1 and 2, trisodium phosphate wash, and chlorine chiller), and (iii) plant C (trisodium phosphate wash and chlorine chiller). The majority of individual interventions effectively or significantly (P < 0.05) reduced microbial populations on or in carcasses, carcass parts, and processing water. Reductions in APC, TCC, and ECC due to individual interventions ranged from 0 to 1.2, 0 to 1.2, and 0 to 0.8 log CFU/ml, respectively. Individual interventions reduced Salmonella incidence by 0 to 100% depending on the type of process and product. Multiple-sequential interventions resulted in significant reductions (P < 0.05) in APC, TCC, ECC, and Salmonella incidence of 2.4, 2.8, and 2.9 log CFU/ml and 79%, respectively, at plant A; 1.8, 1.7, and 1.6 log CFU/ml and 91%, respectively, at plant B; and 0.8, 1.1, and 0.9 log CFU/ml and 40%, respectively, at plant C. These results enabled validation of in-plant poultry processing interventions and provide a source of information to help the industry in its selection of antimicrobial strategies.
Stopforth
J D
JD
Institute for Environmental Health, Inc., 15300 Bothell Way N.E., Seattle, Washington 98155, USA.
O'Connor
R
R
Lopes
M
M
Kottapalli
B
B
Hill
W E
WE
Samadpour
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local