Zero-tolerance for faecal contamination of carcasses as a tool in the control of O157VTEC infections

The Dutch government, the meat producers organisation and the meat industry have recognised O157 VTEC as an important public health hazard, and agreed on the necessity to improve the hygiene in Dutch cattle- and calf-slaughte ring establishments. This paper reports activities within a national action programme to achieve this objective, "Zero-tolerance for faecal contaminat ion during slaughter of cattle and calves". The study included inspection o f hygienic performances in slaughterhouses, and visual and microbiological (aerobic plate counts. Enterobacteriaceae counts and O157 VTEC presence/abs ence on visually clean cattle and calf carcasses) assessment of carcass cle anliness. Initial studies concluded that the hygienic performances in the D utch cattle and calf slaughterhouses should be immediately improved, In 52% of the slaughterhouses inspected, carcasses were observed to be contaminat ed with hide, hair or faeces. Around 45% of the slaughterhouses had constru ctural deficiencies likely to lead to structural cross-contamination of car casses, by direct carcass-carcass contact, or by indirect contacts with flo ors, walls or steps. In 39% of the slaughterhouses, cleaning and disinfecti on procedures were inadequate. Visual inspection of chilled carcasses found that in 11 of the 27 slaughterhouses visited, more than 10% of the carcass es were visibly contaminated. In 6 of the 27 slaughterhouses visited, more than 50% of the carcasses inspected were visibly contaminated. Microbiologi cal analysis of visually clean carcasses noted contamination levels similar to those reported from other countries. O157 VTEC were not isolated during this study. Circulation of these findings lead to increased efforts by all parties to fulfil the requirements of the statutory "Zero-tolerance' progr amme. A follow-up study noted a significant decrease in the proportions of faecally contaminated carcasses, i.e., 7% of chilled carcasses were visibly contaminated with faeces, as opposed to 22% contamination during the initi al study. The follow-up study also noted a greater awareness of the importa nce of good hygienic practices among slaughterhouse personnel and governmen t meat inspectors. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.