BACTERIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF SWINE CARCASSES TREATED WITH RECONDITIONED WATER

Swine carcass microflora were evaluated for selected foodborne pathoge ns after exposure to reconditioned water during scalding, dehairing, a nd polishing operations. Reused water had been reconditioned and chlor inated. Rodac plates applied to hams were used to assess carcass micro flora. Water samples were enumerated using membrane filtration or spir al plating. Sampling was at mid-week throughout the year. Total aerobi c plate counts on hams were unaffected by treating with potable or rec onditioned waters. No differences were observed for staphylococci, ent erics, fecal streptococci, Listeria monocytogenes, coliforms, and Aero monas levels. A preevisceration potable water carcass wash reduced the bacterial load, regardless of initial treatment. Bacterial counts on carcasses paralleled those in water. Reuse is an alternative to potabl e water for initial slaughter operations without diminishing bacteriol ogic safety.