Effects of spray washing carcasses with lauric acid (LA) and KOH on bacteria recovered from whole chicken carcass rinsates (WCR) were examined. Carcass skin was inoculated with antibiotic resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimirum and Campylobacter coli. In a 1st trial, effects of washing carcasses with water, 0.25% LA-0.125% KOH, 0.50% LA-0.25% KOH, 1.00% LA-0.50% KOH or 2.00% LA-1.00% KOH at 80 psi for 15 seconds, were examined. Significantly fewer total plate counts (TPC) of E. coli and Salmonella Typhimirum were recovered from carcasses washed with 2.00% LA-1.00% KOH than from carcasses washed with water. No C. coli were recovered from carcasses washed with 2.00% LA-1.00% KOH. A 2nd trial examined effects of washing carcasses at 60, 100 or 150 psi with 2.00% LA-1.00% KOH for 15 s. Significantly fewer TPC bacteria were recovered from rinsates of carcasses washed with 100 psi than from carcasses washed with 60 or 150 psi. Finally, a 3rd trial was conducted to examine effects of washing carcasses for 0, 5, 15 or 30 seconds with 2.00% LA-1.00% KOH at 100 psi. Significantly fewer bacteria were recovered from carcasses washed for 5 seconds than from unwashed carcasses. Furthermore, significantly fewer TPC bacteria and Salmonella Typhimirum were recovered from carcasses washed for 15 seconds than for 5 seconds and no C. coli were recovered from carcasses washed for 15 or 30 seconds. Findings indicate that spray washing carcasses with LA-KOH can affect the number of bacteria recovered from WCR. It is suggested that the data may be useful in designing applications for use of microbicidal surfactants in processing operations.
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