Relationship Between Incidence of Salmonella Contamination Among Pre-scalded, Eviscerated and Post-Chilled Chickens in a Poultry Processing Plant

Abstract

The incidence of Salmonella contamination in 11 flocks of chickens was determined at three sites within a poultry processing plant: A, before scalding; B, after evisceration; C, after chilling. The average incidence of Salmonella contamination of flocks ranged from 1.2 to 74.4%, and flock to flock variability among sites was significant. Incidences of Salmonella ranged from 3 to 96% at site A; 0 to 69% at site B; and 0 to 96% at site C. Flocks with a high incidence of Salmonella contamination at site A were also frequently contaminated at sites B and C. By generating regression equations, it was possible to predict the incidence of Salmonella at one of these sites from the incidence at the other sites. The ability to define the interdependence between internal and external Salmonella contamination of chickens provides a basis for developing effective control measures for decreasing the incidence of Salmonella-contaminated retail chickens.