Evaluation of sodium dichloroisocyanurate treatment on recovered concentrations of salmonella enterica, escherichia coli 0157:H7 and listeria monocytogenes from cattle hide surfaces and culture medium

Authors: LONG, WILBERT - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); Sarker, Majher; Annous, Bassam; Paoli, George

Submitted to: Journal of Food Safety
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2020
Publication Date: 7/7/2020
Citation: Long, W., Sarker, M.I., Annous, B.A., Paoli, G. 2020. Evaluation of sodium dichloroisocyanurate treatment on recovered concentrations of salmonella enterica, escherichia coli 0157:H7 and listeria monocytogenes from cattle hide surfaces and culture medium. Journal of Food Safety. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfs.12834.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfs.12834

Interpretive Summary: Life threatening bacteria or pathogens are a major concern for the meat industries as they can contaminate meat during processing. Usually, these pathogens migrate from the external cattle surface to underlying meat. So it is important to wash cattle before removing their hide or skin. Previous studies show washing with water alone has limited effectiveness on pathogen reduction from the cattle surface. In this research, we evaluated the efficacy of an antimicrobial compound called, sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) in reducing common pathogens from the haired surface of animal hide and also in liquid. SDIC is a less toxic and environmentally friendly chemical with biocidal properties. Research results show, treatment with SDIC at low concentration reduces significantly the most commonly found pathogens in meat industry such as Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes from liquid and hide surface. This type of research will certainly help the meat industries to produce safe meat.

Technical Abstract: A major concern of the cattle industry is cross-contamination of meat with pathogens linked to environmental sources on cattle hide surfaces. Cattle are constantly exposed to fecal material, mud and other environmental contaminants which harbor pathogens that can be shed onto meat and processing equipment at an abattoir. Carcass washing before hide removal is a common method in reducing pathogenic cross-contamination during evisceration. Water alone has limited effectiveness in pathogen reduction from cattle surfaces. Due to the increased chances of meat contamination during processing, novel antimicrobial formulations need to be identified and tested. Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) has biocidal properties and belongs to the N-halamine group of compounds. Disk diffusion assays revealed limited reduction of some pathogens at 200 ppm SDIC, however 1,000 ppm SDIC effectively reduced pathogen concentrations (diameter up to 10 mm). SDIC was evaluated to investigate its effects on pathogens in TSB. Results revealed that 1,000 ppm SDIC had a strong correlation with time and treatment with no bacterial growth observed at lowest detection level. Treatment of inoculated hides with 1,000 ppm SDIC for 5 min resulted in reduction of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes at 1.97, 2.02 and 2.84 log CFU/cm2, respectively