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Title: A NEW MICROBIOLOGICAL MONITORING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE INTEGRATED INTO A HACCPPROGRAM

Author
item RUSSELL, SCOTT - UGA
item Bailey, Joseph

Submitted to: Broiler Industry
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A new microbiological monitoring system has been developed that may be used to rapidly estimate bacterial populations associated with chicken and other food products. The instrument and associated software enables companies to determine, on the day that the products are produced, whether their products are able to meet or exceed microbiological standards such as total viable counts, coliform counts or E. coli counts. In addition, the ability to test sanitation swabs and sponges for these bacterial counts allows the system to be incorporated into currently operating Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs.

Technical Abstract: An innovative microbiological monitoring system designed to measure color changes in media was evaluated to determine its effectiveness for determining total viable counts, coliform counts and E. coli counts from sanitation swabs, equipment and poultry and meat products. The correlation between instrument and conventional media was -0.92 for total aerobic bacteria, -0.95 for coliforms and -0.93 for generic E. coli. Most of the analyses are completed within 8 to 24 hours. The system is user friendly, requires less labor, is faster than conventional test and can be incorporated directly into a HACCP plan.