ARS | Publication request: Is Salmonella Incidence on Processed Broiler Carcasses Related to the Farm and/or Grow House that the Birds were Reared in?

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 1, 2007
Publication Date: October 18, 2007
Citation: Bailey, J.S., Berrang, M.E., Cray, P.J. 2007. Is Salmonella Incidence on Processed Broiler Carcasses Related to the Farm and/or Grow House that the Birds were Reared in?. International Association for Food Protection. Poster P6. 4-5.

Technical Abstract: Introduction: The Swedish poultry industry has effectively prevented Salmonella on processed chickens by preventing Salmonella introduction into feed and production facilities. This relationship of on-farm Salmonella to processed carcass incidence has been difficult to consistently demonstrate in countries with large chicken industries. Purpose: The study objective was to determine if farm, grow-house, or processing time affect the presence of Salmonella on processed chicken carcasses. Methods: Three hundred carcasses were collected in a commercial plant over three two-shift processing days. Samples represented 18 individual houses from 5 farms. Processed carcasses were qualitatively sampled for Salmonella using standard cultural procedures. Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae were enumerated on Petrifilm. Results: Salmonella was recovered from 26% of carcasses and was not significantly affected by farm or processing shift. Although, no significant difference was seen in Salmonella recovery (16 to 30%) by farm, significant differences were seen by house-on-farm where Salmonella prevalence ranged from 0 to 40% on processed carcasses from individual houses. Neither e.coli nor Enterobacteriaceae was shown to be a good indicator of Salmonella on an individual carcass. Significance: The presence of Salmonella in individual grow houses was correlated with the presence of the Salmonella on processed chickens. Time-of-day and farm birds were reared on did not affect Salmonella recovery.