Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of peracetic acid (PAA) and Amplon (a commercial blend of sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate) for Salmonella and Campylobacter reduction on chicken carcasses during first processing.
Methods: Chicken carcass rinsates (10 birds) were collected from eight different stages (group A to H): Group A) Before depilation, B) post-pick before Amplon spray, C) post-pick after Amplon spray, D) post evisceration before simulated on-line reprocessing (OLR) with Amplon, E) post evisceration and after simulated OLR, F) after primary chilling with PAA, G) after post-chilling with Amplon, and H) after post-chilling with PAA.
Results: The populations of Campylobacter were significantly reduced by antimicrobial applications. Amplon spray, simulated OLR, post-chilling with Amplon and PAA exhibited 3.25, 1.15, 1.52, and 2.22 log CFU/chicken reduction of Campylobacter (P < 0.05), respectively, while there was no Campylobacter reduction in primary chilling with PAA (P ≥ 0.05). Similar to Campylobacter results, antimicrobials applications including Amplon spray, post-chilling with Amplon and PAA also reduced the prevalence of Salmonella. Salmonella were isolated from 3 control (group A), 10 before Amplon spray (B), 2 after Amplon spray (C), 5 before simulated OLR (D), 4 after simulated OLR (E), 4 after primary chilling (F), and 2 after post-chilling with Amplon (G) chicken carcasses. No Salmonella was detected in a group H (after post-chilling with PAA).
Significance: These decontamination methods could be utilized as a part of the antimicrobial application in poultry industry to ensure the microbiological safety of poultry products.