Enterobacteriaceae indicator- raw chicken
Hello, hope you can help with a quick query. i'm looking for microbial guideline limits for enterobactericeae levels in raw chicken? Does anyone have a reference for this? My understanding is that this can only give an indication of hygiene on the day of production but that because of the presence of psychrophilic enterobacteriaceae which multiply during refrigeration and storage, that it is not a great indicator to use for this matrix, and so there is not a guideline usually set. Is that right? Many thanks
Hi kbuchanan,
Most related comments / data is based on carcass measurements. Geographic locations vary in opinion.
JFI I enclose a few samples.
There are also psychrotrophic Enterobacteriaceae that are able to multiply in chilled foods. These are
widely distributed and found in a variety of foods including milk, meat and poultry. This makes it
difficult to interpret levels found throughout the shelf life of a chilled food as they do not necessarily
reflect initial contamination levels or whether temperature control has been adequate.
Enterobacteriaceae do provide an indication of processing and good hygiene on the day of
production.
(indc1)
Enterobacteriaceae are also used as a hygiene indicator for food including fresh meat and, for
example, EU Regulation No 2073/2005 includes a Enterobacteriaceae process hygiene criterion for
carcasses of cattle, sheep, goat, horses and pigs. However, E. coli is often considered a more specific
indicator for faecal contamination (Craven et al., 2003; Baylis et al., 2006). This is because certain
psychrotrophic strains of Enterobacteriaceae may multiply in meat and the Enterobacteriaceae also
includes bacteria that are not always of faecal origin. By comparison, E. coli is generally of faecal
origin, and growth of this organism under refrigeration conditions remains minimal (Baylis et al.,
2006).
(indc2)
Enterobacteriaceae, a hygiene indicator were also part of the microflora of chicken meat (Fig.5). The Initial population of Enterobacteriaceae (3.27log CFU/g) is indicative of adequate hygiene conditions of production in the poultry plant.
(indc3)
FSIS poultry carcass process hygiene E.coli limits.png 104.35KB 3 downloads
(indc4)
There is very little scientific evidence for the establishment of the current microbiological criteria particularly in regards to the Enterobacteriaceae and its impact on animal and public health – i.e. what absolute limit (M) is appropriate to protect human and animal health?
(DEFRA,ABP materials,UK,2012)
indc1 - A-NZ, Food.Standards - Compendium of Microbiological Criteria,2016.pdf 1.02MB 33 downloads
indc2 - EFSA Indicators for poultry meat inspection,2012.pdf 2.11MB 25 downloads
indc3 - Chicken meat quality, Enterobacteriaceae,2015.pdf 672.67KB 43 downloads
indc4 - FSIS Micro. Sampling-Testing Raw-Poultry,2015.pdf 293.58KB 37 downloads