FECAL COLIFORM CONTAMINATION OF BEEF CARCASSES DURING THE SLAUGHTERING PROCESS
- 1 December 2001
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Food Safety
- Vol. 21 (4) , 225-231
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the fecal coliform counts of beef carcasses during different stages in the slaughter process. A total of nine carcasses were selected at random in the abattoir. The samples were taken by excision from three different sites; rump, brisket and shoulder. The samples were collected from the same carcasses at four different stages of processing; after dressing, after evisceration, after washing and after chilling for 24 h in a chilling room. The processing steps did not increase the fecal coliform counts on the rump samples. There were no significant differences in the samples of rump and shoulder among different processing steps. The contamination level of the brisket after washing was significantly higher than other processing steps. Brisket and shoulder parts are critical points for microbiological sampling as these sites showed higher microbial counts after chilling steps. The data obtained have relevance for the planning of washing methods for the production of clean and safe carcasses.Keywords
This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit:
- Microbial Populations on Animal Hides and Beef Carcasses at Different Stages of Slaughter in Plants Employing Multiple-Sequential Interventions for DecontaminationJournal of Food Protection, 2000
- The microbiological conditions of the carcasses of six species after dressing at a small abattoirFood Microbiology, 2000
- Use of total or Escherichia coli counts to assess the hygienic characteristics of a beef carcass dressing processInternational Journal of Food Microbiology, 1996
- Hot water decontamination of beef carcasses for reduction of initial bacterial numbersMeat Science, 1993
- The microbiology of sheep carcasses processed in a modern Indian abattoirMeat Science, 1992
- Surface Contamination of Beef Carcasses by Fecal ColiformsJournal of Food Protection, 1991
- A microbiological survey of fresh meat in the supermarket trade. Part 1: Carcasses and contact surfacesMeat Science, 1989
- Establishing microbiological surveillance programmes at slaughterlines—A new concept of meat hygieneMeat Science, 1988
- Microbiology of beef carcasses before and after slaughterline automationEpidemiology and Infection, 1986
- The Relevance of the Distribution of Micro‐organisms Within Batches of Food to the Control of Microbiological Hazards from FoodsJournal of Applied Bacteriology, 1981