Lactic acid and trisodium phosphate treatment of lamb breast to reduce bacterial contamination

Lactic acid and trisodium phosphate (TSP) were evaluated for the ability to reduce Escherichia coli and aerobic plate counts (APCs) on lamb breasts th at were inoculated with a lamb fecal paste. A 90-s water rinse was applied followed by either a 9-s (55 degreesC) 2% lactic acid spray, a 60-s (55 deg reesC) 12% TSP dip, or a combined treatment of both lactic acid and TSP tre atments. Lactic acid reduced E. coli and APCs by 1.6 log(10)/cm(2), and TSP caused a 1.8-log(10)/cm(2) reduction in E. coli and a 0.7-log(10)/cm(2) re duction in APCs. Combined reductions by the lactic acid spray followed by t he TSP dip were 1.8 and 1.5 log(10)/cm(2) for E. coli and APCs, respectivel y. Lactic acid and trisodium phosphate, used alone or in combination, were effective in reducing numbers of E. coli and could be useful as pathogen in tervention steps in lamb slaughter processing.