Continuous Online Processing of Fecal- and Ingesta-Contaminated Poultry Carcasses Using an Acidified Sodium Chlorite Antimicrobial Intervention

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the combined use of an inside-outside-bird-washer for the removal of visible contamination and an online acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) spray system in reducing microbial levels on contaminated poultry carcasses. Specifically, we attempted to determine if this technique (referred to as continuous online processing [COP]) would (i) eliminate the need for offline reprocessing of contaminated carcasses, (ii) meet Zero Fecal Tolerance standards, and (iii) attain significant reductions in titers of some of the commonly found bacterial species. Carcasses were sampled for Ercherichia coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter at five stations along the processing lines in a series of five commercial plant studies to compare the efficacy of the COP system to that of offline processing. The microbiological quality of fecally contaminated carcasses was found to be significantly better following COP treatment (E. coli, 0.59 log10 CFU/ml; Salmonella, 10.0% incidence) than after standard offline reprocessing (E. coli, 2.37 log10 CFU/ml; Salmonella, 31.6% incidence). Zero Fecal Tolerance requirements were met by all but 2 (0.2%) of the 1.127 carcasses following COP. COP also significantly reduced the titers of Campylobacter; residual titers were 1.14 log10 CFU/ml (49.1% incidence) following COP, compared to 2.89 log10 CFU/ml (73.2% incidence) in carcasses that underwent offline reprocessing. These results support the combined use of an inside-outside-bird-washer for the removal of visible contamination and an online ASC spray system to reduce microbial levels in commercially processed poultry.

Escherichia coli and E nterobacteriaceae counts on poultry carcasses along the slaughterline: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Fourteen studies investigated reduction attributable to the washing step; eleven studies showed a decrease of E. coli counts after this operation (Barbut et al, 2009;Berrang & Dickens, 2000;Kemp, Aldrich, Guerra, & Schneider, 2001;Matias et al, 2010;Northcutt, Berrang, Smith, & Jones, 2003;Oyarzabal, Hawk, Bilgili, Warf, & Kemp, 2004;Stopforth et al, 2007;Svobodova, Borilova, Hulankova, & Steinhauserova, 2012;Vaidya et al, 2005), while three studies (Barbut et al, 2009;Oyarzabal et al, 2004;Stopforth et al, 2007) recorded a very small increase of the counts. From a statistical point of view, washing was effective in reducing bacterial counts; however, it failed to reach practical significance against our threshold value (Details in Fig.…”

Interventions to control Salmonella contamination during poultry, cattle and pig slaughter

“…In the United States it is approved for use as a poultry decontaminant at levels of up to 1200 ppm and pH values of 2.3-3.2; in chiller water, acidified sodium chlorite is used at 50-150 ppm, singly or in combination with other acids (Kemp et al, 2001(Kemp et al, , 2000. Dipping broiler carcasses for 20 s in acidified sodium chlorite (900 mg/kg sodium chlorite, pH 2.5-2.6) postchill, reduced Salmonella incidence from 90 to 10% (Sexton et al, 2007).…”

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of Campylobacter spp. isolated from raw chicken, turkey, quail, partridge, and ostrich meat in Iran

“…represent as one of the major causes of foodborne diseases in humans beings worldwide and are recognized as one of the most prevalent causes of human foodborne diarrhea illness in children and young adults in developing countries (Franchin, Ogliari, & Batista, 2007;Kemp, Aldrich, Guera, & Scheider, 2001;Oberhelman & Taylor, 2000). Campylobacter spp.…”