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Title: Role of lauric acid-potassium hydroxide concentration on bacterial contamination of spray washed broiler carcasses

Author
item Hinton Jr, Arthur
item Cason Jr, John
item Liljebjelke, Karen
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2010
Publication Date: 7/11/2010
Citation: Hinton Jr, A., Cason Jr, J.A., Liljebjelke, K.A., Buhr, R.J. 2010. Role of lauric acid-potassium hydroxide concentration on bacterial contamination of spray washed broiler carcasses [abstract]. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary: none

Technical Abstract: A series of experiments were conducted to examine reductions in bacterial contamination of broiler carcasses washed in a spray cabinet with various concentrations of lauric acid (LA)-potassium hydroxide (KOH) solutions. Fifty eviscerated carcasses and 5 ceca were obtained from the processing line of a commercial poultry processing facility. An inoculated cecal paste was prepared by mixing 5 g of cecal contents with 0.3 mL of a bacterial suspension containing 108 cfu/ml each of antibiotic resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimirum, and Campylobacter coli. A 0.1 g portion of the inoculated cecal paste was applied to the skin of each carcass and allowed to dry for 15 min. Inoculated carcasses were then divided into 5 groups of 10 carcasses each, and groups were spray washed with water, 0.25% LA-0.125% KOH, 0.5% LA-0.25% KOH, 1% LA-0.5% KOH, or 2% LA-1% KOH at 80 psi (552 kPA) for 15 s. Washed carcasses were rinsed for 15 s with sterile, deionized water to remove excess LA-KOH before whole carcass rinses were performed for 2 min in 200 mL of sterile phosphate buffered saline. Total plate count bacteria (TPC) and antibiotic resistant E. coli, Salmonella Typhimirum, and C. coli in the rinsates were enumerated, and the pH of the rinsates was measured. Findings indicated that significantly fewer TPC bacteria, E. coli, and Salmonella Typhimirum were recovered from carcasses washed with 2% LA-1% KOH than from carcasses washed in water. Furthermore, significantly fewer C. coli were recovered from carcasses washed in 1% LA-0.5% KOH than from carcasses washed in water, and no C. coli were recovered from carcasses washed in 2% LA-1% KOH. The pH of rinsates from carcasses washed in water, LA-0.125% KOH, 0.5% LA-0.25% KOH, 1% LA-0.5% KOH, or 2% LA-1% KOH was 7.27, 7.41, 7.57, 8.00, and 9.94, respectively. Findings indicate that the concentration of LA-KOH plays an important role in the ability of this antibacterial surfactant to reduce bacterial contamination of broiler carcass.