High pressure spray with water shows similar efficiency to trimming in controlling microorganisms on poultry carcasses.
A study was conducted to evaluate a high pressure spray (HPS) with water as an alternative to trimming to remove gastrointestinal contamination on poultry carcasses and improve microbiological quality. The study was conducted under commercial conditions in 5 slaughter plants with one plant presenting approximately 5% of carcasses with visible gastrointestinal contamination (VGC), and the others showing approximately 12% of VGC. In all 5 plants, carcasses were sampled from the slaughter line and separated into 6 groups corresponding to 3 different treatments: A) carcasses with VGC before and after trimming; B) carcasses with VGC before and after HPS; and C) carcasses with no VGC before and after HPS. At the end of Trial A and prior to Trials B and C, an HPS equipment was installed before the end of the slaughter line. The HPS equipment was operated with 10 kgf/cm² of pressure and 1.5 L of potable water per carcass. Carcasses were analyzed using a rinsing procedure, and the following microbiological parameters were evaluated: the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter, the abundance of Escherichia coli (EC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), and the Total Viable Count (TVC). Salmonella was found in all plants at a prevalence ranging from 0.8% (plant 1) to 17.3% (plant 5), and the difference between plants was significant (P < 0.05%). The prevalence of Campylobacter ranged from 2.1 (plant 1) to 18.6% (plant 4) (P < 0.05%). The prevalence of Campylobacter was similar in plants 2, 3, and 5, and a significant difference (P < 0.05%) was observed compared to plants 1 and 4. In all plants, the EC, EB, and TVC counts did not show a significant difference (P > 0.05%) in any treatments. These results demonstrate that HPS with water is an alternative method for removing VGC and improving or maintaining the microbiological quality and safety of broiler carcasses.
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Audecir
A
Giombelli
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Dandara
D
Hammerschmitt
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Departamento de Microbiologia, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Marisete F
MF
Cerutti
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Eb
E
Chiarini
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Mariza
M
Landgraf
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Bernardete D G M
BD
Franco
Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, São Paulo, Brazil mtdestro@usp.br.
Maria T
MT
Destro
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002645:Chickens; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D011312:Pressure; D014867:Water
D014867:Water
Campylobacter; Salmonella; high-pressure spray; trimming; visible gastrointestinal contamination