USE OF ANTIMICROBIAL SPRAY APPLIED WITH AN INSIDE-OUTSIDE BIRDWASHER TO REDUCE BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION ON PRECHILLED CHICKEN CARCASSES

Antimicrobial sprays applied using a modified inside-outside birdwashe r to reduce Salmonella typhimurium and total aerobic bacteria on prech illed chicken carcasses.were evaluated in a poultry processing pilot p lant. Four chemicals, including trisodium phosphate (TSP, 10%), lactic acid (LAC, 2%), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC, 0.5%), and sodium bisu lfate (SBS, 5%) were selected to be tested as antimicrobial agents. Ea ch chicken carcass was inoculated by spraying the outside and inside o f each carcass with S. typhimurium at 10(5) CFU per carcass. The inocu lated carcasses then were passed through the birdwasher and sprayed wi th selected chemicals at 35 degrees C at a pressure of 413 kPa for 17 s. After a 60-s setting time on a shackle line, the carcasses were spr ayed with tap water to rinse off chemical residue. All the chemical tr eatments reduced Salmonella on the chicken carcasses by approximately 2log(10) CFU per carcass. Total aerobes on the chicken carcasses, howe ver, were reduced by 2.16, 1.66, 1.03, and 0.74 log(10) CFU per carcas s after spraying with 0.5% CPC, 5% SBS, 2% LAG, or 10% TSP, respective ly. Spray treatments of both SBS and LAC caused slight discoloration i n part of the chicken skin. The most effective antimicrobial spray tre atment for reducing both Salmonella and total aerobes on prechilled ch icken carcasses was 0.5% CPC.