MICROBIOLOGICAL SURVEY OF A SOUTH-AFRICAN POULTRY-PROCESSING PLANT

Bacterial populations associated with poultry processing were determined on neck skin samples, equipment surfaces and environmental samples by replicate surveys. Aerobic plate counts, Enterobacteriaceae counts and Pseudomonas counts were performed by standard procedures and the prevalence of Listeria, presumptive Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus determined. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) increases in counts of all types of bacteria were obtained on product samples as a result of processing. Although bacterial counts on neck skin samples decreased by 0.3 to 0.4 log CFU g(-1) after spray washing of carcasses, subsequent spinchilling and packaging of whole carcasses resulted in 0.7 to 1.2 log CFU g(-1) increases. Bacterial numbers on equipment surfaces, however, decreased significantly from the ''dirty'' to the ''clean'' areas of the abattoir. Transport cages, ''rubber fingers'', defeathering curtains, shackles and conveyor belts repeatedly showed aerobic plate counts in excess of 5.0 log CFU 25 cm(-2). Aerobic plate counts of scald tank and spinchiller water were 2 log CFU ml(-1) higher than those of potable water samples. Bacterial numbers of the air in the ''dirty'' area were higher than those of the ''clean'' area. Listeria, presumptive Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 27.6, 51.7 and 24.1 % of all product samples, respectively, and Listeria and Staphylococcus aureus were also isolated from selected equipment surfaces.