TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE TREATMENT OF PORK CARCASSES

Pork skin samples, naturally contaminated or inoculated with Salmonell a typhimurium, were treated with varying levels of trisodium phosphate (TSP). Aerobic plate counts (APC) of the samples were unaffected by t reatment; however, S. typhimurium was reduced (P<0.05). Using levels m ost effective for reducing S. typhimurium on skin, TSP was investigate d for use on whole pork carcasses during slaughter/processing and did not affect APC of pork carcasses. Due to a lack of detectable presence , any effects of TSP on native Salmonella contamination of pork carcas s surfaces could not be determined. TSP had negligible effect on visua l pork color, texture or odor.