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Title: THE EFFECT OF AN HERBAL EXTRACT, AT A REDUCED CONCENTRATION, DURING A SIMULATED CHILL ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BROILER CARCASSES

Author
item Dickens, James
item Ingram, Kimberly

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A .5 % concentration of Protecta II, a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) herbal extract on a NaCl carrier, was evaluated in a 45 min 1 C simulated chill for its effectiveness at lowering microbial counts on broiler carcasses. Prior work with a 2 % concentration demonstrated significant reductions in total aerobes, E coli, coliforms , and Campylobacter. Eighteen broiler carcasses were picked up at a local processing plant after final wash and before chill, placed into an insulated container and transported to the research facility. Six plant run controls (PRC) were immediately bagged on return to the laboratory and a whole carcass rinse was done. The remaining carcasses were subjected to either a 45 min 1 C chill in tap water or a 0.5% solution of Protecta II. After treatment, carcasses were rinsed with tap water and subjected to the whole carcass rinse procedure. Three replications were performed for a total 18 carcasses per treatment and 18 PRC carcasses. All rinse diluents were microbiologically analyzed for total aerobes, generic E coli, coliforms, and Campylobacter. PRC carcasses had counts of 3.5, 2.1, 2.4, and 1.5 log 10 cfu/ml for the respective organisms. The water treatment reduced counts when compared to the PRC (2.3, 0.6,1.1, 0.4 ). The Protecta II treatment significantly reduced counts even further (P<.01) to counts of 1.67, 0.1, 0.5, and 0.00 log 10 cfu/ml for the total aerobes, generic E coli, coliforms, and Campylobacter respectively. Even though Campylobacter counts varied by over a log on the respective days from a high of 2.2 to a low of 0.5 log 10 cfu/ml, all carcasses were negative for the organism after treatment with the herbal extract.