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Title: Effect of Rinse Volume and Sample Time on Recovery of Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Enterobacteriaceae from Post-Chill Chicken Carcasses

Author
item Bailey, Joseph
item Berrang, Mark
item SHAW, JR, W - USDA-FSIS
item ALTEKRUSE, S - USDA-FSIS

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2007
Publication Date: 7/8/2007
Citation: Bailey, J.S., Berrang, M.E., Shaw, Jr, W.K., Altekruse, S.F. 2007. Effect of Rinse Volume and Sample Time on Recovery of Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Enterobacteriaceae from Post-Chill Chicken Carcasses. International Association for Food Protection. T6-11:108.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: The FSIS HACCP and baseline microbiological sampling of chickens uses a 400 mL whole carcass rinse. Other studies suggest that smaller rinse volumes are equal to or more efficient than the 400 mL rinse. Pick-up time for overnight shipping requires day-shift sampling which FSIS is concerned could introduce bias into the test results. Purpose: Study purpose was to determine if time of sampling within a two- shift processing day and rinse volume affected the qualitative recovery of Salmonella and the enumeration of Campylobacter, E. coli, and Enterobacteriae from processed chicken carcasses. Methods: Carcass rinse samples (300) were collected over three two-shift processing days from a commercial plant. On each of days, 50 pairs of carcasses were rinsed with either 100 mL or 400 mL buffered peptone (BP) water and qualitatively sampled for Salmonella and quantitatively sampled for Campylobacter using standard cultural procedures. E. coli and Enterobacteriacae counts were obtained with Petrifilm. Results: Salmonella recovered (26% of carcasses) was not significantly affected by rinse volume, processing shift or farm chickens were grown on, but was significantly affected by house within the farm. Campylobacter recovery was low, but the number recovered was higher (Log 0.7 / mL) with a 100 mL rinse than with a 400 mL rinse (Log 0.1/mL). More Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli were recovered with a 400 mL rinse (Log 1.63 and 1.09) than with a 100 mL rinse (Log 1.12 and 0.73). Neither E. coli nor Enterobacteriaceae is a good indicator of Salmonella or Campylobacter on an individual carcass. Significance: Time of day did not affect recovery of Salmonella or Campylobacter. Recovery of Salmonella was numerically but not significantly higher from 400 mL rinses, but Campylobacter recovery was higher from 100mL rinses. The house that birds were grown in significantly affected microbiological quality of the processed carcasses.