MICROBIOLOGICAL STATUS OF BEEF CARCASS MEAT IN INDONESIA

The microbiological status of beef carcass meat was investigated at a traditional and a semi-modem abattoir in Indonesia. Carcasses from the traditional abattoir were generally less contaminated than those from the semi-modem abattoir. The average total aerobic viable bacterial c ount of carcasses produced at the traditional abattoir, (log(10) 3.62/ cm(2)) was found to be significantly lower (p = 0.02) at the semi-mode m abattoir (log(10) 4.02/cm(2)). More than 70% of carcasses at both ab attoirs were found to be positive for Escherichia coli (>10 organisms/ cm(2)), while Salmonellae were found on approximately 15% of carcasses at both locations.