Methods to Detect the Occurrence of Various Indicator Bacteria on the Surface of Retail Poultry in Spain |
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| Authors: | R Capita C Alonso-Calleja MT García-Arias B Moreno M Del Camino García-Fernández |
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| Affiliation: | Authors are with the Dept. of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, Univ. of León. Campus Universitario de Vegazana s/n. 24071-León, Spain. Direct inquiries to author Capita (E-mail: ). |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: Contamination levels (cfu/g and cfu/cm2) of indicator microorganisms in retail broiler chicken carcasses in León (Spain) were investigated. Counts (log10 cfu/g) were 5.19, 3.04, 2.73, 3.38, and 3.16 for total aerobic counts ( TAC), Enterobacteriaceae , coliforms determined by the standard VRBA method (coliforms-VRBA), coliforms determined by the Hydrophobic Grid Membrane Filter method (coliforms-HGMF), and Escherichia coli (HGMF method), respectively. These values fit into the microbiological criteria for poultry meat consulted. A low correlation coefficient was found between TAC and Enterobacteriaceae counts (r = 0.308; P = 0.053) and between coliforms-VRBA and coliforms-HGMF counts ( r = 0.398; P = 0.048). The determination method had a significant influence on the coliform counts obtained. All broiler chicken carcasses harbored E. coli biotype I. E. coli biotype II was detected in 20% of the samples. The HGMF method was not completely specific for detecting E. coli since 11.25% of false positive colonies were found. |
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| Keywords: | poultry meat microbial quality indicator microorganisms Escherichia coli methods evaluation |
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