Purpose: The objective of the present study was to compare microbial counts in conveyor belts submitted or not to continuous cleaning by water spray at 45°C.
Methods: A total of 216 superficial samples were collected at three different times (T1, T2 and T3), in both conveyor belts (with or without continuous cleaning with water at 45°C). The following times were used for sampling: T1 - soon after the preoperational cleaning procedure; T2 - at the turn of the work shift; T3 - soon after the second work shift; completing the two work shifts of conveyor belt use. Mesophilic aerobes and Enterobacteriaceae counts were performed.
Results: For Enterobacteriaceae, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the conveyor belts, independent of the time of sampling or cleaning process. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the counts of mesophilic obtained in distinct times of sampling in the conveyor belt not submitted to continuous cleaning with water at 45°C. Comparing similar periods of sampling, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the mesophilic counts obtained from conveyor belt submitted or not to continuous cleaning with water at 45°C. The continuous cleaning with water did not promote a significant reduction of mesophilic and Enterobacteriaceae counts, suggesting the possibility of discarding this procedure in chicken processing in order to reduce the emission of effluents in the environment.
Significance: Based on these evidences, alternative cleaning processes must be proposed and evaluated to provide proper microbial load reduction in poultry processing facilities equipments.