THE PRESENCE OF LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES IN THE INTEGRATED POULTRY-INDUSTRY

This study attempted to determine if Listeria monocytogenes enters the processing plant on the live bird as presented to the processing plan t, and if so what sources contribute to the contamination of live poul try. Samples were taken at the beginning of the broiler chick's life ( in the hatchery), at the end of finished grow-out period (as the broil er chicken entered the processing plant), and as fully processed carca sses in the processing plant. Listeria monocytogenes was found on 6% o f the egg fragments and on 1% of the chick transport pads. Only 1 of 1 15 whole bird rinses and none of the 115 ceca were contaminated upon e ntering the processing plant. After processing, 27 of 105 (25.7%) carc asses were positive for L. monocytogenes. These data suggest that List eria infrequently enters the processing plant on the live broiler anim als. However, the organism appears to take up residence in the process ing plant, a situation which ultimately leads to cross contamination d uring processing.