Purpose: This study evaluated the reduction of Campylobacter incidence and numeration on cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) treated poultry carcasses (antimicrobial solution sold under the trade name Cecure®).
Methods: Whole pre-chill carcasses were treated with four different concentrations of CPC (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4%). Two carcasses were collected for each CPC treatment and four were collected for the control samples. Each control carcass was individually bagged and rinsed using United States Department of Agriculture/Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) standard methodology for collecting a whole bird carcass rinse. Each CPC treated carcass was treated with 0.5 gallons of the specified CPC concentrations. After CPC treatment, each carcass was allowed to drain for 30 s, and then treated with a cursory water rinse. After treatment, each carcass was individually bagged and rinsed using the same methodology for the collection of a whole bird carcass rinse. The rinsates were collected in labeled sterile containers and placed in a refrigerator and held at 2 - 4°C until time of microbiological evaluation (< 4 h). Samples were evaluated for Campylobacter incidence and enumeration using USDA Microbiological Laboratory Guidebook (MLG), pre-enrichment and modified plating procedures.
Results: The control carcasses had an average of 0.34 logs of Campylobacter and 100% incidence. All four CPC treatments showed no Campylobacter recovery on direct plating and no positive samples on the pre-enrichment.
Significance: The study results show the use CPC is an effective microbial intervention for reducing the Campylobacter levels on poultry carcasses.