Microbial Decontamination of Beef Carcass Surfaces by Lactic Acid, Acetic Acid, and Trisodium Phosphate Sprays

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of lactic acid (LA), acetic acid, (AA) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) spray on the microbiological population of beef carcass surfaces slaughtered in a traditional abattoir in Zagazig, Egypt. Higher microbial populations were determined on the shoulder than on the thigh surfaces, and meat sampling by tissue excision technique yielded significantly higher ( $P<0.01$ ) microbial count than swabbing method. The application of LA (2%), AA (2%), and TSP (12%) sprays for 30 seconds significantly ( $P<0.01$ ) reduced the microbial population counts on the beef surfaces by 0.9 to 2.2 logs. A complete inhibition of enterococci growth was achieved by LA and AA sprays. In general, LA and AA sprays were more efficient as antimicrobial agents than the TSP spray. Among the studied organisms, enterococci were the most reducible bacteria by LA and AA, followed by Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms, while Staphylococcus aureus being the least. This study also indicated that microbial populations determined on the shoulder were higher than on the thigh surfaces, and meat sampling by tissue excision technique yielded significantly higher ( $P<0.01$ ) microbial count than swabbing method.