Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 11/17/09

Cold water immersion and other antimicrobial interventions in poultry processing substantially improve the microbiological profile of raw chickens, according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"We observed a substantial reduction in the number of samples positive for Salmonella . . . and Campylobacter, suggesting that the anti-microbial interventions had an effect," USDA scientists wrote in their report on a nationwide data collection program.

The survey found that five percent of the raw chickens in the survey had salmonella after chilling and 11 percent had campylobacter, down from 41 percent and 71 percent, respectively, prior to evisceration. Additionally, the actual number of bacteria on each raw chicken was greatly reduced, by about 99 percent on average with respect to campylobacter and 66 percent on average for salmonella.

"The USDA survey shows that the industry is doing an excellent job of reducing the presence of potentially disease-causing bacteria on raw chicken," Steve Pretanik, director of science and technology for the National Chicken Council, said in a statement. "The investments made by the industry in improved technology and bacteria-fighting interventions have paid off in terms of a safer product for consumers." He noted that any remaining bacteria are destroyed by the heat of normal cooking.

USDA conducted the study from July 2007 to June 2008 at 182 broiler slaughter plants. The agency collected a total of 6,550 samples, divided equally between samples taken at the re-hang station and after the chiller. Raw chickens were processed under the available antimicrobial measures of each plant, which typically include the use of chlorinated water in processing and in the chiller.

Results of the survey were published by the Office of Public Health Science in the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. To view the entire study, click here. 

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