Microbiological Quality of Australian Beef Primals and Manufacturing Meat

Introduction: In 2011, the fourth national baseline study was undertaken in which frozen beef trim and, for the first time, beef primals were sampled from 29 export-registered establishments.

Purpose: The objectives of the study were to set a contemporary baseline for microbiology of beef primals and frozen manufacturing beef.

Methods: Beef primals (striploins and outsides) were sampled by sponging just prior to packaging, and frozen manufacturing meat by drilling core samples. Samples were transported chilled to a laboratory accredited to ISO-17025 and indicator organisms and pathogens tested using internationally accepted methods.

Results: Frozen boneless beef cartons (n=1,165) were found to have a mean aerobic plate count (APC) of 2.2 log CFU/g and the mean count for the 2.1 % of samples with detectable E. coli was 1.3 log CFU/g. The mean APC for striploins (n=572) and outsides (n=572) were 1.25 and 1.51 log CFU/cm², respectively. E. coli was isolated from 10.7% and 25.5% of striploins and outsides, respectively with mean counts of -0.49 and -0.26 log CFU/cm² on positive samples. E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Campylobacter were not isolated from any primal cut samples and Salmonella was not isolated from any of the boneless product (E. coli O157 was not tested because boneless meat is routinely tested). Listeria sp. were not detected in any of the boneless product and was isolated on 1 striploin sample. Coagulase positive staphylococci were isolated from 3.4% of boneless samples, 7.7% of striploins and 8.4% of outsides with positive samples having mean counts of 1.9 log CFU/g, 0.2 log CFU/cm² and 0.2 log CFU/cm², respectively.

Significance: The prevalence of pathogens and counts of indicator organisms on Australian primals and frozen boneless beef appears to be very low, which accords with findings from earlier baseline studies.