title: Evaluation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 translocation and decontamination for beef vacuum-packaged subprimals destined for nonintact use.
abstract: The translocation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 as well as the impact of water washing and partial or complete surface trimming as possible pathogen reduction strategies were evaluated for vacuum-packaged beef subprimals destined for nonintact use. Cap-on and cap-off beef top sirloin butts were inoculated with two levels of E. coli O157:H7: a high-inoculum level of approximately 10(4) CFU/cm(2) and a low-inoculum level of approximately 10(2) CFU/cm(2). Following inoculation, the subprimals were vacuum packaged and stored for 0, 14, or 28 days. Upon removal from storage, the following sites were evaluated: exterior of the bag, purge, the inoculation site on the subprimal, the area adjacent to the inoculation site, and the surface opposite from the inoculation site. The following treatments then were applied: water wash, water wash followed by full-surface trimming, water wash followed by partial-surface trimming, full-surface trimming, full-surface trimming followed by water wash, partial-surface trimming, and partial-surface trimming followed by water wash. For both high- and low-inoculated top sirloin butts, contamination of adjacent and opposite surfaces was found after vacuum packaging. Of the treatments applied, water washing alone was the least effective for both high- and low-inoculated subprimals. Full trimming, with or without a water wash, proved to be the most effective treatment used to reduce E. coli O157:H7 to nondetectable levels.
authors: Center for Food Safety, Department of Animal Science, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, 2471 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843-2471, USA.
authors: Jacob L
authors: JL
authors: Lemmons
authors: Lisa M
authors: LM
authors: Lucia
authors: Margaret D
authors: MD
authors: Hardin
authors: Jeffrey W
authors: JW
authors: Savell
authors: Kerri B
authors: KB
authors: Harris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D002417:Cattle; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014618:Vacuum