ISOLATION OF SALMONELLAE FROM NATURALLY CONTAMINATED DRIED MILK PRODUCTS

Abstract
Eight plants that were equipped with several types of driers and that produced a variety of dried milk products were surveyed for Salmonella contamination. Each plant had a history of Salmonella isolations from finished product. Sampling included production fractions as well as tailings and environmentals. Distribution of salmonellae was not random in fractions of product obtained during a day's operation. One-fourth of the 277 samples of the first product through the system (animal feed) contained salmonellae; this was a higher frequency than the 5.6% positive tests observed in 963 samples of other fractions produced later during daily operation. The incidence of Salmonella isolations in these food-grade products also was lower than that observed in 873 tailings samples (10.5%), in 1125 air filter samples (23.6%), and in 763 environmental samples (21.1%). However, plants with Salmonella-positive air filters or environmentals were able, on occasion, to manufacture product free of salmonellae. Results of this study indicated that the first product out of the system during daily operation provides the best sample for evaluation of product contamination by salmonellae.

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