Evaluation of Hand-Trimming, Various Sanitizing Agents, and Hot Water Spray-Washing as Decontamination Interventions for Beef Brisket Adipose Tissue

Abstract

Various chemical solutions (5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.5% ozone, 12% trisodium phosphate, 2% acetic acid, and 0.3% commercial sanitizer), water (16 to 74°C) spray-washing interventions, and hand-trimming/spray-washing treatments were compared for their ability to remove fecal material and to reduce bacterial contamination on beef brisket fat samples in a model spray-washing cabinet. The samples were inoculated with 2.5 cm2 of a bovine fecal paste inoculated with Escherichia coli (ATCC 11370). Hand-trimming followed by spray-washing with plain water (16 to 74°C when it came in contact with the sample; 20.68 bar pressure; for 36 or 12 s corresponding to chain speeds of 100 or 300 carcasses per h) lowered (P < 0.05) microbiological counts, compared to the inoculated control, by 1.41 to 2.50 log colony-forming units (CFU)/cm2. Additionally, spraying with chemical solutions (16°C; 1.38 bar, 12 or 36 s), before or after spray-washing with plain water (20.68 bar) of 16°C (36 s), 35°C (12 s) or 74°C (12 s) reduced b...