Occurrence and characterization of Salmonella from chicken nuggets, strips, and pelleted broiler feed

Raw, frozen chicken nuggets and strips have been identified as a significant risk factor in contracting foodborne salmonellosis. Cases of salmonellosis as a result of consuming partly cooked chicken nuggets may be due in part to Salmonella strains originating in broiler feed. This study was undertaken to determine the occurrence and characterize the strains of Salmonella contaminating chicken nuggets, strips, and pelleted feeds, in an attempt to demonstrate whether the same Salmonella strains present in broiler feed could be isolated from raw, frozen chicken nuggets and strips available for human consumption. Salmonellae were recovered using the Health Canada MFHPB-20 method for the isolation and identification of Salmonella from foods. Strains were characterized by serotyping, phage typing, antimicrobial resistance typing (R-typing), and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonellae were isolated from 25-g samples in 27% (n=92) of nugget and strip samples, 95% (n=20) of chicken nugget meat samples, and from 9% (n=111) of pelleted feed samples. Salmonella Heidelberg, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Salmonella Orion were the most commonly isolated serovars from chicken nuggets and strips, nugget and strip meat, and pelleted broiler feeds, respectively. Salmonella Enteritidis phage type (PT) 13a with PFGE pattern SENXAI.0006 and R-type sensitive as well as Salmonella Enteritidis PT13a with PFGE pattern SENXAI.0068 and R-type sensitive were isolated from pelleted feed, and chicken nugget and strip meat in two separate instances. Data showed that Salmonella strains isolated from broiler feed were indistinguishable from strains isolated from packaged raw, frozen chicken nuggets and strips. However, results did not rule out the possibility that breeding stock or contamination during processing may have contributed to chicken meat contamination by Salmonella.     

Integrated surveillance of Salmonella along the food chain using existing data and resources in British Columbia,Canada

Integrated surveillance of pathogens along the food chain and the multidisciplinary investigation of food hazards are considered international best practices. Integrated surveillance of Salmonella was initiated in British Columbia (BC), Canada in 2006. The objectives of this paper were 1) to describe the BC integrated surveillance experience, 2) to present findings from the integrated surveillance of Salmonella, and 3) to identify the components that enabled the program. Data about BC animal, food and human Salmonella isolates from 2006 to 2010 (n = 5003) were centrally collated and analysed. Among chickens, chicken meat and humans, the most common serotypes identified were S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg. An increase in S. Enteritidis in all three sectors in 2007–9 led to a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral investigation. An evaluation of the integrated surveillance program helped identify four critical program elements: dedicated people, cross-sectoral sharing and integration of data, multi-disciplinary analysis and interpretation of findings, and collaborative multi-sectoral response. Ongoing challenges include lack of resources and infrastructure to sustain the program.     

Estimation of the costs of acute gastrointestinal illness in British Columbia, Canada

The costs associated with gastrointestinal infection (GI) in the province of British Columbia, Canada, were estimated using data from a population-based survey in three health service delivery areas, namely Vancouver, East Kootenay and Northern Interior. The number of cases of disease, consequent expenditure of resources and associated economic costs were modeled as probability distributions in a stochastic model. Using 2004 prices, the estimated mean annual cost per capita of gastrointestinal infection was CAN$128.61 (euro207.96), with a mean annual cost per case of CAN$1,342.57 (euro2,170.99). The mean estimate of the overall economic burden to British Columbia was CAN$514.2 million (euro831.5 million) (95% CFI CAN$161.0 million to CAN$5.8 billion; euro260.3 million to euro9.38 billion). The major element of this cost was the loss of productivity associated with time away from paid employment by both the sick and their caregivers. Sensitivity analysis suggested that the uncertainty associated with the base model assumptions did not significantly affect the estimates. The results are comparable to those obtained in an earlier study using a similar analytical framework and data from the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.     

Occurrence and distribution of listeria species in facilities producing ready-to-eat foods in British Columbia, Canada

In British Columbia (BC), Canada, food processing facilities licensed under provincial authority are not required to sample for Listeria monocytogenes in food products or processing environments. In 2009, we conducted a survey of dairy, fish, and meat facilities under BC authority to estimate the prevalence of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and production environments. From August to October, 250 RTE food samples and 258 swabs from the food processing environments of 43 facilities were collected. Standard culture methods were applied to both food samples and swabs. Of swabs collected from all 258 environmental surfaces, 15% were positive for Listeria spp. Significantly (P, 0.001) more fish facilities than dairy and meat facilities had food contact surfaces contaminated with Listeria spp. L. monocytogenes was found in RTE foods from fish facilities alone (5 of 12); in all five of the fish facilities with contaminated product, one or more environmental swabs were also positive for L. monocytogenes. The results suggest that while control of L. monocytogenes in BC-inspected dairy and meat facilities is effective in limiting food contamination, there is a need for provincial inspectors to initiate improved monitoring and management of contamination by L. monocytogenes in RTE fish processing facilities.     

Thermal resistance of Salmonella serovars isolated from raw, frozen chicken nuggets/strips, nugget meat and pelleted broiler feed

Raw, frozen chicken nuggets/strips available at retail and prepared at home before consumption have been identified as a significant risk factor in contracting food-borne salmonellosis. Cases of salmonellosis from consumption of these products may be due, in part, to Salmonella strains originating in broiler feed. In this study the thermal resistances of Salmonella strains isolated from chicken nuggets and strips, chicken nugget/strip meat and broiler feed were determined to assess whether they exhibited enhanced thermal resistance. Thermal resistances (D- and z- values) of 7 cocktails (25 isolates, 4 serovars) were determined in commercially prepared irradiation-treated chicken nugget/strip meat blend, and heated in a constant temperature waterbath. The thermal resistances found were lower than those reported for similar strains in the literature. D-values ranged from 6.93 to 0.12 min at 55 and 62 degrees C respectively, with z-values from 4.10 to 5.17 degrees C. Two strains of S. Enteritidis separately isolated from pelleted feed and chicken nugget meat blend, with indistinguishable geno- and phenotypes, had lower (and probably identical) thermal resistances than the other isolates. Results indicated that the strains of Salmonella isolated from raw, frozen chicken nuggets/strips and pelleted broiler feed did not exhibit unusually high thermal resistance, and that normal heating (71 degrees C) prior to consumption should eliminate these organisms from chicken nuggets/strips.     

零售鸡肉中沙门氏菌的半定量风险评估研究

目的 在调查了解南京市零售鸡肉中沙门氏菌污染情况的基础上, 对零售鸡肉中沙门氏菌进行半定量评估, 预测南京市零售鸡肉中沙门氏菌污染的风险, 并提出降低风险的预防措施。方法 根据国际食品法典委员会(CAC) 推荐的微生物风险评估的4个步骤, 应用半定量风险评估软件(risk ranger), 结合流行病学调查和微生物检测的数据, 对鸡肉中沙门氏菌污染的风险进行半定量评估。结果 南京市居民每人每天因食用被沙门氏菌污染的鸡肉而发生食物中毒的概率为2.1×10-7, 每年因沙门氏菌污染鸡肉而引发食物中毒的人数为636人, 风险等级为45。结论 南京市零售鸡肉中沙门氏菌污染的风险程度为中度风险, 人群感染鸡肉沙门氏菌的风险与人群的感染剂量、交叉污染、加工处理的方式等因素有关, 未来应加强监管。     

Polybrominated diphenyl ether trends in eggs of marine and freshwater birds from British Columbia, Canada, 1979-2002

Temporal, spatial, and interspecific trends in polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants were determined in eggs of marine and freshwater bird species from the province of British Columbia, Canada. Temporal trends in the Fraser River estuary, 1983-2002, were examined by analysis of eggs of great blue herons (Ardea herodias) and from the Strait of Georgia marine ecosystem, 1979-2002, in eggs of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Results were compared to those from eggs of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) taken along the lower Fraser River and along the Columbia River near Castlegar, British Columbia, and of a pelagic seabird, the Leach's storm-petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa), collected at a colony on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Mean concentration of sigmaPBDE, 455 microg/kg w.w., were highest in heron eggs collected in 2002 from the Fraser estuary. Concentrations in eggs of cormorants and ospreys taken from sites of varying urban influence tended to be about half that value. Leach's storm petrel eggs had only trace amounts of sigmaPBDE (3.38 microg/kg), despite having similar concentrations of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides to the other species. PBDEs increased exponentially with a doubling time of 5.7 years in eggs of both herons and cormorants. Over this period of increasing PBDEs, major chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as PCBs and DDE, were stable or decreased. The PBDE pattern was relatively consistent in most years and sites, with BDEs 47 > 100 > 99 > 153 > 154 > 28 > 183. This was interpreted as evidence of technical pentaBDE formulations as primary sources of the contamination, with the octaBDE formulations as secondary. Higher resolution analysis of a subsample of the eggs revealed the presence of up to nine other congeners, including BDE209 (range: 0.9-1.8 microg/kg), indicating exposure and uptake of decaBDE sourced congeners in North American foodchains. At some locations, concentrations of pentabrominated congeners and mixtures in fish are approaching levels potentially toxic to fish-eating birds, based on rodent studies and calculations of dietary intake from fish data.     

Identifying sources and biomagnification of persistent organic contaminants in biota from mountain streams of southwestern British Columbia, Canada

We assessed whether biota occupying mountain streams accumulate and biomagnify remotely derived organic pollutants originating from atmospheric inputs to snowpack and glacial runoff and from marine sources introduced by migrating anadromous salmon. Several persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p'-dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene, hexachlorobenzene, and trans-nonachlor were commonly detected in benthic invertebrates, salmon fry (Oncorhynchus spp.), and eggs of an aquatic passerine, the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) from the Chilliwack River watershed, British Columbia, Canada. Total PCBs and several organochlorines (OCs) biomagnified from benthic invertebrate composites to salmon fry to dipper eggs. Invertebrate samples generally did not differ significantly in contaminant burdens between the river main stem where salmon are more abundant and higher-elevation tributaries where the salmon density is lower. Concentrations of total OCs and total PCBs in dipper eggs were positively related to drainage basin area and collection year but not to elevation. No differences in PCB congener patterns existed between dipper egg samples from the Chilliwack watershed and other watersheds in southwestern British Columbia. However, principal component analysis revealed significant spatial differences in egg PCB congener patterns between the main Chilliwack River and the higher-elevation tributaries. This difference was primarily due to a greater occurrence of lower chlorinated PCB congeners (66 and 105) in dipper eggs collected from the tributaries and higher loadings of the more stable and persistent congeners (153, 138, 130, and 128) in eggs from the river main stem. The results suggest that atmospheric sources are the main contributor of contaminants detected in biota from the region and that biomagnification is a common pathway for accumulation in lotic predators such as the American dipper.     

Prevalence and risk factors for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. carcass contamination in turkeys slaughtered in Quebec, Canada

An observational study was conducted to estimate prevalence and risk factors for carcass contamination by Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. in 60 lots of turkey slaughtered over 10 months in the province of Quebec, Canada. Carcass contamination was evaluated by the carcass rinse technique for about 30 birds per lot. Exposure to potential risk factors was evaluated with questionnaires, meteorological data, and cecal cultures. Multivariable binomial negative regression models were used for risk factor analysis. Prevalence of Salmonella-positive carcasses was 31.2% (95% confidence interval, 22.8 to 39.5%). Variables positively associated (P < or = 0.05) with the proportion of lot-positive carcasses were > or =0.5% of carcass condemnation due to various pathologies, cecal samples positive for Salmonella, low wind speed during transportation, closure of lateral curtains of truck during transportation, and slaughtering on a weekday other than Monday. When only Salmonella-positive cecal culture lots were considered, the proportion of carcasses positive for Salmonella was significantly higher in lots exposed to a >5 degrees C outside temperature variation during transportation, slaughtered on a weekday other than Monday, and in which > or = 4% of carcasses had visible contamination. Prevalence of Campylobacter-positive carcasses was 36.9% (95% confidence interval, 27.6 to 46.3%). The proportion of positive carcasses was significantly higher in lots with Campylobacter-positive cecal cultures and lots undergoing > or =2 h of transit to slaughterhouse. For lots with Campylobacter-positive cecal cultures, variables significantly associated with an increased incidence of carcass contamination were de4% of carcasses with visible contamination, crating for > or =8 h before slaughtering, and no antimicrobials used during rearing.     

零售生鸡肉中沙门菌污染对居民健康影响的暴露评估

目的评估零售生鸡肉中沙门菌污染的健康风险及其潜在的干预措施。方法利用零售生鸡肉中沙门菌定量监测数据以及零售和家庭生鸡肉储存加工专项调查结果,采用Monte Carlo概率评估方法,估计我国居民通过厨房内交叉污染发生鸡源性沙门菌食物中毒的风险,并评价潜在的干预措施效果。结果本研究构建了从零售到餐桌的生鸡肉-沙门菌交叉污染模型,模型估计生鸡肉经过零售储存、抵达居民家里和经过家庭储存后其沙门菌浓度(lg MPN/g)从零售前的-0.017,分别增长到2.163、2.241和3.028,估计我国居民每餐发生鸡源性沙门菌食物中毒的风险为0.171(95%置信区间:0.000~0.767),其中零售阶段生鸡肉的储存方式是影响发病风险的最重要因素(回归系数=0.72),情景分析提示,如果零售阶段采用冷冻或者冷藏储存,我国居民每餐发病风险可以降为0.031(95%置信区间:0.000~0.522)。结论我国居民鸡源性沙门菌食物中毒的风险较高,应当加强零售环节生鸡肉的冷链管理。     

Prevalence and risk factors for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. carcass contamination in broiler chickens slaughtered in Quebec, Canada

An observational study was conducted to estimate prevalence and risk factors for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. carcass contamination in broiler chickens. Eighty-two lots were sampled in four slaughterhouses located in the province of Québec, Canada, over a 10-month period. Carcass contamination was evaluated by the carcass rinse technique for about 30 birds per lot. Exposure to potential risk factors was evaluated based on data from questionnaires, meteorology, and cecal cultures. Multivariable binomial negative regression models were used for risk factor analysis at the lot level. The prevalence of Salmonella-positive carcasses was 21.2% (95% confidence interval: 15.7 to 26.7%). Significant risk factors (P < 0.05) associated with a higher proportion of positive carcasses within lots were Salmonella-positive cecal culture, low rainfall during transportation to the slaughterhouse, temperature of > or = 0 degree C during transportation to the slaughterhouse, and a > or = 4-h waiting period in shipping crates before slaughtering. The prevalence of Campylobacter-positive carcasses was 35.8% (95% confidence interval: 27.1 to 44.5%). Lots containing birds with Campylobacter-positive cecal culture results, lots of birds that were slaughtered at the end of the week, and lots with at least 20% of birds with digestive contents detected in the jejunum at time of slaughtering had a significantly higher proportion (P < 0.05) of contaminated carcasses. These results support the importance of preharvest control measures implemented during rearing to reduce contamination of the final product. Weather during transportation to slaughter and the day of the week that birds were slaughtered also were associated with carcass contamination; further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanisms by which these factors influence carcass contamination.     

Antimicrobials for reduction of Salmonella contamination in uncooked, surface-browned breaded chicken products

Surface-browned but uncooked frozen breaded chicken products have been associated with salmonellosis outbreaks due to inadequate or no cooking of the products before consumption. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three antimicrobials against Salmonella during manufacture of a surface-browned, uncooked frozen breaded chicken meat product. Fresh chicken breast meat portions (5 by 5 by 5 cm) were inoculated (4 to 5 log CFU/g) with Salmonella and mixed with caprylic acid (CAA; 0.5 and 1.0%), carvacrol (CAR; 0.3 and 0.5%), ε-polylysine (POL; 0.125 and 0.25%), or distilled water (control). Sodium chloride (1.2%) and sodium tripolyphosphate (0.3%) were added to all treatments, and the mixtures were ground (5% total moisture enhancement level) and formed into portions (9 by 5 by 3 cm). The products were breaded and surface browned by baking in an oven (208°C for 15 min) or deep frying in vegetable oil (190°C for 15 s), packaged in polyethylene bags, and stored at -20°C for 7 days. Total reductions of inoculated Salmonella in untreated control oven- or fryer-browned products after frozen storage were 1.2 and 0.8 log CFU/g, respectively. In comparison, treatment with CAA, CAR, or POL reduced initial pathogen counts by 3.3 to >4.5, 4.1 to >4.7, and 1.1 to 1.6 log CFU/g, respectively, regardless of the antimicrobial concentration and browning method. Treatment with 1.0% CAA (oven browned) or 0.5% CAR (oven or fryer browned) reduced Salmonella to nondetectable levels (<0.3 log CFU/g) in stored frozen products. These data may be useful for development of suitable antimicrobial treatments to reduce the risk of Salmonella contamination in surface-browned, uncooked frozen breaded chicken products.     

Number of Salmonella on chicken breast filet at retail level and its implications for public health risk

This study aimed to characterize the number of Salmonella on chicken breast filet at the retail level and to evaluate if this number affects the risk of salmonellosis. From October to December 2005, 220 chilled raw filets (without skin) were collected from five local retail outlets in The Netherlands. Filet rinses that were positive after enrichment were enumerated with a three-tube most-probable-number (MPN) assay. Nineteen filets (8.6%) were contaminated above the detection limit of the MPN method (10 Salmonella per filet). The number of Salmonella on positive filets varied from 1 to 3.81 log MPN per filet. The obtained enumeration data were applied in a risk assessment model. The model considered possible growth during domestic storage, cross-contamination from filet via a cutting board to lettuce, and possible illness due to consumption of the prepared lettuce. A screening analysis with expected-case and worst-case estimates for the input values of the model showed that variability in the inputs was of relevance. Therefore, a Monte Carlo simulation with probability distributions for the inputs was carried out to predict the annual number of illnesses. Remarkably, over two-thirds of annual predicted illnesses were caused by the small fraction of filets containing more than 3 log Salmonella at retail (0.8% of all filets). The enumeration results can be used to confirm this hypothesis in a more elaborate risk assessment. Modeling of the supply chain can provide insight for possible intervention strategies to reduce the incidence of rare, but extreme levels. Reduction seems feasible within current practices, because the retail market study indicated a significant difference between suppliers.     

An enhanced discriminatory pulsed-field gel electrophoresis scheme for subtyping Salmonella serotypes Heidelberg, Kentucky, SaintPaul, and Hadar

Conventional pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) protocols, used extensively as a successful approach for subtyping many salmonellae, may be inadequate for discriminating strains sharing levels of homogeneity within the same serotype. Four additional restriction enzymes (SpeI, PacI, SfiI, and NotI), in addition to XbaI and BlnI, were used in PFGE typing of 33 Salmonella Heidelberg, 27 Salmonella Kentucky, 27 Salmonella SaintPaul, and 27 Salmonella Hadar isolates that were recovered from poultry and porcine retail meats from different states of the United States. A dendrogram derived from the combined analysis of six enzymes was highly discriminatory with a Simpson index of diversity value of over 0.950. The ratio of nodes to isolates was more than 0.75 with an average of fewer than three isolates in each polytomy for all four serotypes. Two three-enzyme combinations, SpeI/NotI/SfiI for Salmonella Heidelberg and Salmonella Hadar, and SpeI/BlnI/SfiI for Salmonella Kentucky and Salmonella SaintPaul, were found to have comparable discriminatory abilities of differentiating isolates of these Salmonella serotypes with the six-enzyme combination. The enhanced discriminatory PFGE-based subtyping scheme can be used effectively for the differentiation of strains of the four Salmonella serotypes. The findings also highlight PFGE analysis as a continued essential and informative subtyping method for source tracking and outbreak investigations of these and other Salmonella pathogens.     

GC-MS based metabolomics for rapid simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Muenchen, and Salmonella Hartford in ground beef and chicken

A metabolomic-based method for rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Hartford, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Salmonella Muenchen in nonselective media was developed. All pathogenic bacteria were grown in tryptic soy broth (TSB) at 37 °C followed by metabolite quantification at 2-h intervals for 24 h. Results were compared with the metabolite profiles similarly obtained with E. coli K12, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharomyces cereviseae, and Aspergillus oryzae grown individually or as a cocktail under the same conditions. Principal component analysis (PCAS) discriminated pathogenic microorganisms grown in TSB. Metabolites responsible of PCAS classification were dextrose, cadaverine, the aminoacids L-histidine, glycine, and L-tyrosine, as well as the volatiles 1-octanol, 1-propanol, 1butanol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, and 2,5-dimethyl-pyrazine. Partial least square (PLS) models based on the overall metabolite profile of each bacteria were able to detect the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. at levels of approximately 7 ± 2 CFU/25 g of ground beef and chicken within 18 h.     

Baseline rates of Campylobacter and Salmonella in raw chicken in Wales, United Kingdom, in 2002

The Public Health Laboratory Service in Wales, in cooperation with local authorities and the Food Standards Agency Wales, carried out a survey to establish baseline figures for the contamination of raw retail chicken with Salmonella and Campylobacter available within Wales, a devolved part of the United Kingdom with a population of approximately 3 million. Seven hundred thirty-nine samples were obtained between November 2001 and December 2002. Overall, 71% of samples were contaminated with Campylobacter, and 8% were contaminated with Salmonella. There were no significant differences between fresh and frozen carcasses and between samples taken from retailers or butchers. There was seasonal variation in the level of Campylobacter contamination of fresh chicken, with a peak in June and the lowest positive rates in January, March, and December. There was no similar peak observed in frozen samples or for Salmonella.     

Occurrence and characterization of Listeria spp. in ready-to-eat retail foods from Vancouver, British Columbia

The occurrence of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in retail RTE meat and fish products in Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.) was investigated. To assess potential consumer health risk, recovered L. monocytogenes isolates were subjected to genotypic and phenotypic characterization. Conventional methods were used to recover Listeria spp. from deli meat (n = 40) and fish (n = 40) samples collected from 17 stores. Listeria spp. were recovered only from fish samples (20%); 5% harboured Listeria innocua, 5% had L. monocytogenes and 10% contained Listeria welshimeri. L. monocytogenes isolates serotyped as 1/2a and 1/2b, possessed dissimilar PFGE patterns, and had full-length InlA. Three 1/2a clonal isolates encoded the 50 kb genomic island, LGI1. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling showed all Listeria spp. possessed resistance to cefoxitin and nalidixic acid. L. monocytogenes were resistant to clindamycin, two were resistant to streptomycin, and one to amikacin. Reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin was seen in all L. monocytogenes, L. innocua and three L. welshimeri isolates. Reduced susceptibility to amikacin and chloramphenicol was also observed in one L. monocytogenes and three L. welshimeri isolates, respectively. Recovery of L. monocytogenes in fish samples possessing AMR, full-length InlA, LGI1, and serotypes frequently associated with listeriosis suggest B.C. consumers are exposed to high-risk strains.     

Contamination of chicken carcasses in Gauteng, South Africa, by Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter

The presence of the foodborne pathogens, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter spp., on 99 fresh and frozen chicken carcasses sourced from various retailers in Gauteng, South Africa, was investigated. Using culture methods, 60.6% of the carcasses were found to be contaminated with one or more pathogens, with 19.2%, 19.2% and 32.3% of the carcasses being found to harbour Salmonella, L. monocytogenes and Campylobacter, respectively. The extent of contamination with one or more pathogens was not significantly different (p>0.1) between fresh or frozen samples or between samples from butcheries, supermarkets or street vendors. Significantly more (p<0.1) fresh carcasses from butcheries than from other outlets were contaminated with Salmonella, while more fresh carcasses from supermarkets were contaminated with Campylobacter. The proportion of carcasses with L. monocytogenes from all sources were similar. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results indicate an even higher extent of pathogen contamination, but the PCR techniques need to be further refined before they can be used routinely.