Effect of acidified sodium chlorite treatment on chicken carcases processed in South Australia

A trial on the effectiveness of acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) on Salmonella and Campylobacter was undertaken on chicken carcases after they exited the screw chiller of a commercial premises in Adelaide, Australia. On untreated carcases mean log(10) total viable count (25 degrees C) was 2.78/cm(2) compared with 1.23/cm(2) on treated carcases. Prevalence of E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter was 100%, 90% and 100% respectively, on untreated carcases and 13%, 10% and 23% respectively, on treated carcases. The distributions of E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter (mean log(10) of positive samples) from untreated carcases were 1.55, - 1.80 and 1.59/cm(2) respectively, and -0.64, - 1.85 and -2.21/cm(2) respectively, on treated carcases. On untreated carcases S. Sofia and S. Infantis were isolated from 73% and 37% of carcases, respectively; only S. Sofia was isolated from treated carcases. The significant reductions in both prevalence and concentration demonstrated in the present trial indicate that ASC is a risk management option immediately available to the poultry industry. Crown Copyright (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.