GROWTH OF SELECTED CROSS-CONTAMINATING BACTERIAL PATHOGENS ON BEEF AND FISH AT 15 AND 35-DEGREES-C

Isolates of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens from beef and Aeromonas hydrophila from fish were examined for their ability to sur vive and grow as cross-contaminates on nonnative tissues at simulated ambient (35-degrees-C) and aging/conditioning (15-degrees-C) temperatu res of handling and retailing found in the tropics. Growth of all isol ates over a 10-h period was greater (P < 0.05) on their native tissues at both temperatures. The aging/conditioning temperature effectively limited growth of E. coli and A. hydrophila to less than 1-log10 CFU/g and prevented growth of C. perfringens on beef and fish samples. All three isolates demonstrated characteristic mesophilic growth response on both tissues at 35-degrees-C during the 10-h retail period. The stu dy suggests that two muscle food products could be jointly handled to efficiently use available storage/haulage capacity in tropical countri es. Potential savings in space, labor and energy would be made if cros s-contamination between the two products is minimized by available pac kaging and sanitizing technologies.