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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #170968
Title: MICROBIOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SPRAY WASHING BROILER CARCASSES WITH ACIDIFIED ELECTROLYZED WATER

Author
item Northcutt, Julie
item Smith, Douglas
item Ingram, Kimberly
item Hinton Jr, Arthur
item Musgrove, Michael

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2005
Publication Date: 7/31/2005
Citation: Northcutt, J.K., Smith, D.P., Ingram, K.D., Hinton Jr, A., Musgrove, M.T. 2005. Microbiological impact of spray washing broiler carcasses with acidified electrolyzed water [abstract]. Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts. 84(suppl.1):92.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate the microbiological impact of spray washing broiler carcasses with acidified electrolyzed water for 5, 10 or 15 sec. Commercial broiler carcasses were obtained from a local processing facility prior to the inside-outside bird washer. Carcasses were subjected to a whole carcass rinse (WCR) before treatment (pre-treatment). Broiler ceca were also obtained from the processing facility. Broiler cecal contents (4.95 g) were inoculated with a co-suspension (0.1 mL) containing 107 cells of Campylobacter and nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella, and 0.1 grams were applied to each carcass after the pre-treatment WCR. Inoculated carcasses were held at room temperature for 12 min before washing in a cabinet washer with either 50 PPM chlorine (HOCl) or 50 PPM acidified electrolyzed water (EO). Carcasses were washed for 5, 10 or 15 sec at 80 psi. Immediately after washing, carcasses were subjected to another WCR (post-treatment). Bacterial counts were determined on both the pre- and post-treatment rinses, as well as on the WCR of inoculated unwashed control carcasses. After 5 sec of washing, treatment (HOCl or EO) had no effect on the total aerobic bacteria, E. coli, Campylobacter, or nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella counts. After 10 sec of washing, carcasses treated with HOCl had bacterial counts that were 0.5, 0.8 and 0.4 log10 higher than the carcasses treated with EO for E. coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella, respectively. Counts for E. coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella were similar for carcasses treated with both EO and HOCl after 15 sec of washing. Total aerobic bacteria varied by only 0.4 log10 after 15 sec of washing, with the lower counts on the EO treated carcasses. Applying EO water in a cabinet washer for 10 sec reduced the level of E. coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella to a level below that obtained with HOCl, but these reductions were all less than 1 log. Key words: Inside-outside bird washer, fecal contamination, microbiology