SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION OF PRODUCT AND ENVIRONMENT OF SELECTED CANADIAN CHICKEN PROCESSING PLANTS

  • 1 January 1967
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (4) , 88-+
Abstract
Of 345 market chicken carcasses received directly from selected processing plants across Canada, six yielded salmonellae. One of the plants submitted 122 carcasses none of which yielded these organisms. A second plant had one Salmonella-contaminated carcass among 20 which were examined. Each of these two plants was subjected to detailed bacteriological examinations on four occasions. In these detailed examinations a total of 175 samples or specimens for culture were taken from a variety of surfaces including vent areas of carcasses, operators'' hands, equipment surfaces and from water in tanks of iced birds. Twenty-five (14%) of the cultures yielded salmonellae and all but one of these were either S. oranienburg or S. infantis. Isolations were made during five of the eight series of examinations. The evidence indicated that Salmonella-infected flocks were frequently slaughtered and that Salmonella contamination could become widespread in the plant during processing. The organisms are apparently eliminated from all but a small percentage of the carcasses during processing but opportunities exist for recontamination during subsequent handling.