Purpose: To evaluate AviBrom® (1,3-Dibromo-5,5-Dimethyl hydantoin), a bromine-based biocide as means to control Salmonella and Campylobacter on chicken legs.
Methods: Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni were grown overnight at 37°C in Luria-Bertani broth. Chicken drumsticks purchased from local stores were inoculated with 8-log CFU of either Salmonella or Campylobacter and allowed to attach for 30 minutes at room temperature. Simulating a poultry chill tank, drumsticks were submerged for one hour in the pre-chilled biocide solution at 4°C; the treatments included bromine-base biocide at 100 and 400 ppm (as bromine), sodium hypochlorite at 50 ppm (as chlorine) and peroxyacetic acid at 25 and 100 ppm. Refreshing solution was added at 30 minutes for each treatment. Tap water at 4°C was used as control. After treatment, drumsticks were drained for 15 seconds and a whole-bird rinse was performed following FSIS protocol. The rinsate was analyzed using standardized methods to detect and quantify Salmonella and Campylobacter.
Results: The bromine-based biocide at levels lower than FDA’s approved limits, was more efficacious controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter than bleach at all concentrations tested (P < 0.001) and performed similarly to peroxyacetic acid. Microbial reductions ranged from 2.0 to 3.6 log CFU/g for Salmonella and 2.3 log CFU/g to complete kill for Campylobacter.
Significance: Bromine-based antimicrobials are an effective intervention to reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter in the poultry industry.