The Reduction of Pathogen Load on Ross 708 Broilers when Using Different Sources of Commercial Peracetic Acid Sanitizers in a Pilot Processing Plant

Abstract

Peracetic acid (PAA) in poultry processing is not necessarily the same from company to company. Anecdotal evidence suggests that PeraClean may be more stable compared to the competition; however, it is not known what impact potential differences in chemical stability may have. In order to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of PAA, one PAA (PeraClean, P) was qualitatively compared against two competitor products (Competitors 1 and 2, C1 and C2) at the University of Arkansas Pilot Processing Plant. A total of 150 Ross 708 broilers (42 d) were used in the current study. Briefly, prior to treatment, 10 birds were sampled post-evisceration (C). Then, one of four treatment groups per PAA were applied (A1, A2, B1, and B2). The birds were dipped in either 400 ppm or 600 ppm PAA (A or B), chilled in either 25 ppm or 45 ppm PAA (1 or 2), and then manually agitated in 400 mL of nBPW for 1 min. There were 10 birds per treatment group in total. The resulting rinsates were transported to the Center for Food Safety and assessed for total microbiological load with total aerobic plate counts (Trypticase Soy Agar; APC), coliforms, (Eosin Methylene Blue Media; EMB), Salmonella (Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar, XLD), and Campylobacter (modified Charcoal Cefoperazone Deoxycholate Agar, mCCDA). The microbiological plates were incubated as per manufacturer's directions. Statistical analyses were calculated in JMP 14.0, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Data indicate that all three sources of PAA are effective sanitizers for poultry processing applications compared within treatment. Qualitatively, there were differences in efficacy between the treatments. However, additional studies will be required to determine if those differences are quantitatively distinctive and if they are attributable to differences in product stability.

Keywords: Campylobacter; PAA; Salmonella; poultry processing.

Figure 1

Schematic of the sampling procedure followed in the current experiment. A total of 150 broilers were processed at the University of Arkansas poultry pilot processing plant, where sampling took place. For each PAA sanitizer tested (PeraClean, Competitor 1, and Competitor 2), ten birds were rinsed in 400 mL of neutralizing buffered peptone water (nBPW) for 1 min by manual shaking after manual evisceration took place and were discarded. Following this, forty birds were eviscerated and dipped in solution containing 400 or 600 ppm of PAA for ten seconds immediately after evisceration and then placed into four separate stationary chillers containing either 25 or 45 ppm of PAA sanitizers for 1 h. After birds had been chilled, carcasses were rinsed in nBPW and discarded. Rinsates were collected in specimen cups, stored on ice, and transported to the Center for Food Safety at the University of Arkansas for processing.

Figure 2

The effect of PeraClean, a PAA acid sanitizer, used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the load of Salmonella (a), total coliforms (b), and Campylobacter (c) present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. The means are numerically stated on the bar graph. N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (a); N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (b); N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (c). PA1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, PA2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, PB1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and PB2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 2

The effect of PeraClean, a PAA acid sanitizer, used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the load of Salmonella (a), total coliforms (b), and Campylobacter (c) present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. The means are numerically stated on the bar graph. N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (a); N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (b); N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (c). PA1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, PA2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, PB1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and PB2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 3

The effect of PeraClean, a PAA sanitizer, used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the prevalence of Campylobacter present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001. PA1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, PA2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, PB1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and PB2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 4

The effect of Competitor 1, a PAA sanitizer used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the load of Campylobacter present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. The means are numerically stated on the bar graph. N = 50, n = 10, p = 0.0022. CA1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, CA2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, CB1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and CB2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 5

The effect of Competitor 1, a PAA sanitizer used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the prevalence of Campylobacter present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. N = 50, n = 10, p = 0.0013. CA1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, CA2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, CB1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and CB2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 6

The effect of Competitor 2, a PAA sanitizer used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the load of Salmonella (a), total aerobic bacteria (b), and Campylobacter present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. The means are labeled on the bar graph. The main effect was significant N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (a); N = 50, n = 10, p = 0.0479 (b); N = 50, n = 10, p = 0.0002 (c). C2A1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, C2A2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, C2B1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and C2B2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 6

The effect of Competitor 2, a PAA sanitizer used as an antimicrobial dip (400 or 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 or 45 ppm) on the load of Salmonella (a), total aerobic bacteria (b), and Campylobacter present in the rinsates of 42-d-old Ross 708 broilers. The means are labeled on the bar graph. The main effect was significant N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (a); N = 50, n = 10, p = 0.0479 (b); N = 50, n = 10, p = 0.0002 (c). C2A1 refers to a 400 ppm/25 ppm treatment, C2A2 refers to a 400 ppm/45 ppm treatment, C2B1 refers to a 600 ppm/25 ppm treatment, and C2B2 refers to a 600 ppm/45 ppm treatment, with each treatment being first a post-evisceration dip followed by an immersion chill.

Figure 7

The effect of Competitor 2, a peracetic acid sanitizer used as an antimicrobial dip (400 and 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 and 45 ppm) on the prevalence of Salmonella (a), and Campylobacter (b) present in the rinsates of 42 d old Ross 708 broilers. N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (a); N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (b).

Figure 7

The effect of Competitor 2, a peracetic acid sanitizer used as an antimicrobial dip (400 and 600 ppm) and in a stationary chilling tank (25 and 45 ppm) on the prevalence of Salmonella (a), and Campylobacter (b) present in the rinsates of 42 d old Ross 708 broilers. N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (a); N = 50, n = 10, p < 0.0001 (b).