Effects of chilling water on the bacterial flora of poultry carcases

ABSTRACT The effects of immersion chilling operation on microbiological quality of poultry carcasses and cross contamination of Salmonella were studied. Levels of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli and the incidence of Salmonella were determined prechill and postchill. The level of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli were reduced by immersion chilling operation but there was an increase in Salmonella incidence on carcass exiting the immersion chiller indicating that this may be the point of most significant cross contamination in broiler processing plants. 1; Experiments on microbial decontamination of poultry carcasses with lactic acid were performed. Treatment with lactic acid(l%) resulted in a 1.259, 1.685 and 2.023 logaritmic unit reduction in colony forming units of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli. Other treatments with lactic acid(3%) resulted in a 2.502, 3.876 and 3.820 logaritmic unit reduction in colony forming units of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli according to the control samples. Salmonella was not isolated from decontaminated of broiler carcasses with 1% and 3% lactic acid. Experiments indicate that lactic acid can be used eliminate Salmonella from poultry carcass and extend shelf life of processed broiler. Undesirable organoleptic characteristics may only occur when it is used at high concentrations. Ill