Reduction of microorganisms in ground beef using multiple intervention technology

The effectiveness of multiple antimicrobial interventions on ground beef microbial, instrumental color and sensory characteristics through display was studied. Beef trimmings were inoculated with Escherichia coli (EC) and Salmonella typhimurium (ST) then treated with either: (1) 5% acetic acid followed by 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (AC); (2) 200 ppm chlorine dioxide followed by 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CC); (3) 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride followed by 10% trisodium phosphate (CT), or (4) control (C). Trimmings were ground, packaged and sampled through display for EC, ST, coliforms (CO), aerobic plate count (APC), and sensory color and odor characteristics. All treatments reduced (P < 0.05) all bacterial types monitored through display. Ground beef from the CC treatment was similar (P > 0.05) in redness (a*) to C. The CT treatment remained (P < 0.05) redder (a*) in color, contained more (P < 0.05) oxymyoglobin and had less (P < 0.05) overall, worst point and percentage discoloration than C by day 7 of display. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.