HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hannah, J. F. Articles by Buhr, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hannah, J. F. Articles by Buhr, R. J.

Impact of added sand on the recovery of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and coliforms from prechill and postchill commercial broiler carcass halves¹

J. F. Hannah^*, D. L. Fletcher^*,2, N. A. Cox, D. P. Smith^,3, J. A. Cason, J. K. Northcutt^,4, L. J. Richardson and R. J. Buhr^,5

^* Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens 30602; and Poultry Microbiological Safety, Quality and Safety Assessment, and Poultry Processing and Swine Physiology Research Units, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, PO Box 5677, Athens, GA 30604-5677

⁵ Corresponding author: Jeff.Buhr{at}ars.usda.gov

Salmonella and Campylobacter are often associated with raw poultry products and continue to be leading causes of food-borne gastroenteritis in the United States. As a result, the presence of these organisms on broiler carcasses is monitored on a routine basis. Abrasive rinsing methods (e.g., adding glass beads) have been shown to increase the level of bacteria recovered from carcasses or carcass parts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the addition of sand to the rinse on bacterial enumeration and the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter recovered from broiler carcasses. During each of 4 replications, 6 prechill and 6 postchill broiler carcasses were collected from a commercial processing plant. All carcasses were split along the dorso-ventral midline. Carcass halves were rinsed in buffered peptone water, whereas the companion half was rinsed in buffered peptone water with sterile sand added. All carcass halves were rinsed for 1 min and the rinsate was collected. Salmonella, coliforms, and Escherichia coli were enumerated and the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter was determined. Salmonella and Campylobacter were isolated from 17 and 50% of the carcass halves, respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in Salmonella or Campylobacter prevalence from carcass halves rinsed with or without sand. The addition of sand to the rinse had no effect on the number of Salmonella, coliforms, or E. coli recovered from prechill or postchill carcass halves. These results show that adding sand to the rinse liquid did not improve the recovery of bacteria present on the carcass in either moderate (2.6 log₁₀ cfu/mL rinsate) or low numbers (<3 cfu/mL of rinsate).

Key Words: Salmonella • Campylobacter • Escherichia coli • sand • half-carcass rinse

¹ Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the USDA.

² Current address: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269.

³ Current address: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695.

⁴ Current address: Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634.