The effects of UV irradiation at a wavelength of 254 nm on the survival of Campylobacter jejuni on the surfaces of broiler meat, skin, and carcasses were studied. On broiler carcasses, the effects of UV were also studied in combination with activated oxygen. The surfaces were inoculated with varying counts of C. jejuni and treated with UV irradiation using doses ranging between 9.4 and 32.9 mW/s per square centimeter. The log reductions in C. jejuni counts were determined by dilution plating. The effects of both treatments on the sensory quality of broiler meat, including visual appearance, odor, and fatty acid composition, were also evaluated. On broiler meat, the maximum reduction achieved was 0.7 log and on broiler skin 0.8 log. On broiler carcasses, the maximum reduction using UV irradiation was 0.4 log, and using UV in combination with activated oxygen 0.4 log. No significant differences were found in the sensory quality between the samples and the controls. The use of UV irradiation alone or in combination with activated oxygen cannot be recommended as a primary decontamination method for C. jejuni on broiler carcasses. The use of these methods in combination with other decontamination techniques, and processing with proper processing plant sanitation and hygiene, might be more effective in reducing the C. jejuni counts on broiler carcass surfaces than the use of these methods only.

Document VersionPublisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA): Katzav, M., Isohanni, P., Lund, M., Hakkinen, M., & Lyhs, U. (2008). PCR assay for the detection of Campylobacter in marinated and non-marinated poultry products. Food Microbiology, 25 (7) a b s t r a c tDuring a period of 9 months, 194 marinated and non-marinated poultry products were collected from retail shops in a defined area in Western Finland and tested for Campylobacter spp. using a conventional enrichment culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. For marinated poultry products, the study involved modification of a commercial DNA isolation method. Using either a conventional culture or PCR method, a total of 25 (12.9%) of all investigated samples were Campylobacter positive. In marinated poultry products, Campylobacter was detected at a prevalence of 21.1% and 9.5% in turkey and chicken products, respectively. In August, there was a peak with 28.9% positive Campylobacter samples.Campylobacter inoculation tests were carried out to test the detection limit of both methods. The PCR method used is faster than microbiological analyses. However, enrichment of the samples is necessary due to the low occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in retail Finnish poultry products.

This research studied the survival of high (7 log cfu/mL) and low (3 log cfu/mL) inoculum levels of Campylobacter in white and red wines and in grape and tomato juices, which could function as potential antimicrobial marinade ingredients. For comparison, survival was also studied in a commercial poultry meat marinade. White and red wines were shown to have very high bactericidal effects against Campylobacter. High counts were rapidly inactivated to undetectable numbers within 15 min in white wine and within 1 h in red wine, and low counts within 15 min in white wine and within 30 min in red wine. By contrast, grape and tomato juices did not possess high bactericidal effects against Campylobacter because even low counts were occasionally detected after 48 h. The commercial marinade had rather high bactericidal effects against Campylobacter; the high counts were inactivated in most cases within 48 h, and all the low counts were inactivated within 3 h. When testing chicken meat inoculated with Campylobacter and subsequently submerged in white or red wine, the antibacterial activity of the wine was largely reduced. Wines lowered the Campylobacter load inoculated on chicken meat by approximately 1 log cfu/mL over 48 h. The results suggest that wines could be used as antimicrobial ingredients together with the addition of further antimicrobial agents in meat marinades to reduce the numbers of Campylobacter in naturally contaminated poultry products, thus lowering the risk of Campylobacter cross-contamination and transmission through food.