Purpose: We have developed and validated an immunoassay for quantitative detection of chicken meat juice on hands and various food contact surfaces and evaluated the contamination and transferring of meat juice from chicken packages to hands and contact surfaces during and after grocery shopping.
Methods: An immunoassay was developed using a monoclonal antibody to a muscle protein, troponin I. Swab procedures were designed to detect meat juice on hands and food contact surfaces. Consumer shopping studies were conducted in three cities. A total of 394 swabs were collected from 96 participants. The swabs were taken from: (1) consumers’ hands at store after they touch three items and have left the meat section, (2) the outside of the poultry packages, (3) the inside of grocery bags if the customer does not throw away the grocery bag, (4) the items the poultry touched in the cart, and (5) the surface that the poultry touched at the home.
Results: The results of meat juice assay showed, among 96 participants, 47 (49%) had detectable meat juice (from 1 µl to more than 500 µl) on the chicken packages they purchased. Among these participants (47), 16 (34%) had detectable meat juice (between 1 µl and 50 µl) on their hands, 10 (21%) had detectable meat juice (between 1 µl and 500 µl) on the grocery bags, 12 (26%) had detectable meat juice (between 1 µl and 500 µl) on countertop or refrigerator surfaces, and 23 (49%) had detectable meat juice (between 1 µl and 50 µl) on other food items.
Significance: The data indicated that there is a high chance of contamination and transfer of meat juice from chicken packages to hands and other food contact surfaces.