EFFECTS OF AVGARD(TM) TREATMENT ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL FLORA OF POULTRY CARCASSES

1. The efficiency of the AvGard(TM) (or Assur-Rince(TM) in the USA) tr isodium phosphate poultry carcase decontamination process was evaluate d during both manual and industrial trials against total aerobic mesop hilic count (TAMC), thermotolerant coliforms, Pseudomonas, Enterobacte riaceae, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. 2. The TSP treatment proved to have significant effects on the bacterial deco ntamination of poultry neck skin, lowering the contamination by a fact or of about 10 for TAMC and of 100 for Coliform and Pseudomonas. 3. Nu meration of Salmonella with an innovative miniaturised most probable n umber method has proved that the effect upon these micro-organisms was also close to 2 log(10) reduction. 4. The effect of TSP treatment on the ecological balance of psychrotrophic bacterial flora was also inve stigated to study the origin of the shelf-life flora of treated carcas es (Pseudomonas being reduced to the limit of detection) and to ascert ain whether L. monocytogenes might gain a competitive advantage. In fa ct AvGard(TM) reduced the number of L. monocytogenes on poultry carcas es. 5. As a consequence of the virtual elimination of the Pseudomonas usually present, Brochothrix thermosphacta became the main species res ponsible for putrefaction. 6. Because the growth rate of Brochothrix t hermosphacta was greater than that oft. monocytogenes at refrigeration temperature, it was considered that putrefaction would occur before t he emergence of large numbers of L. monocytogenes.