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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190750
Title: MICROBIOLOGICAL EFFICACY OF SPRAY WASHING BROILER CARCASSES USING FRESH FX ON E. COLI, TOTAL COLIFORMS AND SALMONELLA POPULATIONS

Author
item Ingram, Kimberly
item Northcutt, Julie
item Cason Jr, John
item Hinton Jr, Arthur

Submitted to: Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2006
Publication Date: 7/16/2006
Citation: Ingram, K.D., Northcutt, J.K., Cason Jr, J.A., Hinton Jr, A. 2005. Microbiological efficacy of spray washing broiler carcasses using fresh fx on e. coli, total coliforms and salmonella populations [abstract]. Southern Poultry Science Society Meeting Abstracts. 85(1):198.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the effect of using FreshFx™, a combined citric, hydrochloric and phosphoric acid solution, in a spray cabinet on the numbers of E.coli, coliforms and Salmonella recovered from broiler carcasses. During each of three experimental trials, broiler carcasses were obtained from a commercial processing facility. Untreated control carcasses were removed from the processing line before entering a two-stage cabinet washer. Treated carcasses were removed after being sprayed for 8 sec with FreshFx™ or tap water in the cabinet washer. After treatment carcasses were aseptically removed from the processing line, placed in clean bags and transported in insulated coolers to a pilot plant scale facility for analysis. The bacterial flora of the carcasses was sampled using a 400 ml whole carcass rinse procedure. Rinsates were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella and level of E.coli and total coliforms. After an 8 sec spray treatment, there was a 56% incidence of Salmonella in rinsates from water treated carcasses versus a 47% incidence of Salmonella in rinsates from FreshFx™ treated carcasses. This represented no significant difference between the treatments. However, levels of E.coli and coliform recovered from carcasses sprayed with FreshFx™ was 0.6 log10 cfu/ml lower than those counts recovered from water treated samples. Control carcasses and water treated carcasses did not differ significantly (P<.05) in either E.coli or coliform counts (3.1 vs. 3.0, 2.8 vs. 2.7 log10 cfu/ml respectively). The present study demonstrates that FreshFx™ could be a viable option for reduction of E.coli and coliform counts on broiler carcasses; however, its impact on Salmonella incidence after an 8 sec spray application seems to be minimal.