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Title: EFFECT OF COMMERCIAL INSIDE-OUTSIDE BIRD WASHER (IOBW) ON CAMPYLOBACTER, SALMONELLA, E. COLI, AND AEROBIC PLATE COUNTS (APC) OF UNCONTAMINATED, CONTAMINATED, AND CROSS-CONTAMINATED BROILER CARCASSES

Author
item Smith, Douglas
item Northcutt, Julie
item Musgrove, Michael

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/14/2004
Publication Date: 7/25/2004
Citation: Smith, D.P., Northcutt, J.K., Musgrove, M.T. 2004. Effect of commercial inside-outside bird washer (iobw) on campylobacter, salmonella, e. coli, and aerobic plate counts (apc) of uncontaminated, contaminated, and cross-contaminated broiler carcasses [abstract]. Poultry Science. 83(suppl.1):155.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Processors are washing carcasses with one or more in-line inside-outside bird washers (IOBW) due to zero fecal tolerance regulations. This study was conducted to determine the effect of an IOBW on Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, and aerobic plate counts (APC) of uncontaminated (control), contaminated, and cross-contaminated broiler carcasses at two different IOBW water pressure settings. Three trials of 12 commercially processed carcasses each (two replications of six birds) were conducted as follows: two control carcasses, two carcasses contaminated with cecal contents (inoculated with Campylobacter and Salmonella) and allowed to dry on carcass skin for 12 min, and two carcasses uncontaminated and placed adjacent to contaminated birds during washing (to determine cross contamination) were prepared (n=36). Whole carcass rinses were conducted on each carcass prior to contamination or washing, then repeated after washing. Carcasses were washed with an in-line commercial IOBW set at 160 bpm (5 s) and either 40 or 80 PSI water pressure. There were no significant effects (P<0.05) from contamination with feces or from cross contamination, nor from IOBW pressure on Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, or APC counts. The overall effect of washing was a slight (but not biologically) significant reduction in E. coli (3.2 to 3.0) and APC (4.9 to 4.8) log10cfu/ml rinsate. IOBW washing decreased the incidence of Campylobacter from 14/36 positive carcasses to 1/36 positives, but Salmonella incidence for contaminated carcasses increased from 0/12 to 3/12 after washing. The IOBW removed carcass contamination to levels equivalent with control levels without cross contaminating other carcasses. The incidence of Campylobacter was decreased, though Salmonella was not reduced.