Efficacy of aqueous solution of n-halamine to reduce microbiological contamination on cattle hides for meat safety with byproduct quality assurance

Authors: Sarker, Majher; LONG, WILBERT - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); Liu, Cheng Kung

Submitted to: Journal of American Leather Chemists Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2020
Publication Date: 9/1/2020
Citation: Sarker, M.I., Long, W., Liu, C. 2020. Efficacy of aqueous solution of n-halamine to reduce microbiological contamination on cattle hides for meat safety with byproduct quality assurance. Journal of American Leather Chemists Association. 115:330-336.

Interpretive Summary: The prevention of the bacterial contamination on the outer surface of cattle has been a significant challenge to the meat and hide processing plants and food safety. Cattle severs as a host to several bacteria which may become firmly lodged on a cattle’s hide during their lifespan. Some of those bacteria can be dangerous for human and may endanger public health being transferred to the meat during processing and also they deteriorate the hide quality. To reduce such bacterial contamination, cattle need to be frequently washed with environmentally friendly antimicrobials prior to hide removal. This study evaluated the effectiveness of spray washing with aqueous solution of sodium dichloroisocyanurate dehydrate (SDCIC) at different concentrations to reduce pathogenic and total aerobic bacterial counts in 1 and 5 minutes on the haired hide surface. Results revealed that, a significant reduction of bacterial contamination on hide surface was achieved with a low concentration of spray washing treatment of SDCIC. Furthermore, the quality of leather prepared from treated hides was evaluated as leather is a valuable by product.

Technical Abstract: Bacterial contamination on the outer grained hide of cattle serves as a significant challenge to the meat and hide processing plants and food safety. Cattle serves as a host to several bacteria including pathogens which may become firmly lodged on a cattle’s hide during their lifespan and can facilitate cross contamination of the underlying meat and meat processing equipment in a slaughter house. In this study, the efficacy of sodium dichloroisocyanurate dehydrate (SDCIC) which belongs to N-halamine group of compound is evaluated on inhibition of the natural-borne bacteria from the haired surface of on cattle hide. Spray-washing with 0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75% aqueous SDCIC solutions reduced total aerobic bacteria on hide surface by 1.6 and 2.37 and 3.57 log CFU/50 cm2 respectively in 5 minutes. Similarly, in comparison with water spray, a 5 minute treatment with 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% SDCIC resulted in a reduction of Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) and related gram-negative bacilli (gnEB) counts by 1.2, 2.22 and 4.22 log CFU/50 cm2 respectively. The highest reduction of Ecoli recovery of 1.48 log CFU/50 cm2 was observed with a spray treatment of 0.75% SDCIC in 1 minute. Likewise, 0.75% SDCIC spray treatment resulted in 2.5 and 3.65 log CFU/50 cm2 reduction of Salmonella in 1 and 5 minute, respectively in comparison to their respective controls. Leather from treated hides was tested to evaluate the effects of N-halamine solutions on structural, mechanical and subjective properties of produced leather in which no major detrimental impacts were found.