Validation of a lactic acid- and citric acid-based antimicrobial product for the reduction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on beef tips and whole chicken carcasses

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of a lactic acid- and citric acid-based antimicrobial product on the reduction of Salmonella on whole broiler carcasses during processing and the reduction of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef trim. Freshly harvested broiler carcasses were inoculated with an inoculum of Salmonella strains to yield a 10⁵ CFU/ml pathogen load on the surface of the carcass. The beef tips were inoculated as well with an inoculum of either E. coli O157.H7 or Salmonella to yield 10⁴ CFU/100 cm². After 30 min for attachment, the broiler carcasses were treated with Chicxide applied for 5 s via a spray or immersed in Chicxide for 5, 10, or 20 s. Broiler carcasses were rinsed in poultry rinse bags with 400 ml of Butterfield's phosphate buffer in which Salmonella was enumerated from the diluents and Butterfield's phosphate. Chicxide significantly reduced Salmonella by 1.3 log CFU/ml with spray treatment and 2.3 log CFU/ml for all dip treatments. Following 30 min of attachment, the beef tips were placed into a spray cabinet with either Beefxide or sterilized water (control) and sprayed at 1 ft/2.5 s chain speed at 40 lb/in². The external surface of each beef tip was swabbed (100 cm²) to determine pathogen loads. Beefxide significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 by 1.4 log CFU/100 cm² and Salmonella by 1.1 log CFU/100 cm2 (P < 0.05) compared with the control samples.