EFFECT OF TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE ON SALMONELLAE ATTACHED TO CHICKEN SKIN

Processed carcasses from a commercial plant were inoculated with 10(8) or 10(2) colony forming units (CFU) of Salmonella typhimurium 14028. Inoculated carcasses were dipped in a 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution for 15 min. Whole carcass rinses and skin homogenates were tested with and without a 2 L water rinse to remove residual TSP, using unbuffered or buffered peptone solutions. High pH values in test solutions resulting from TSP treatments could interfere with the efficient recovery of Salmonella. Salmonellae levels were reduced by 2 logs, but decreases in total aerobic counts were much smaller as a result of TSP treatments. Salmonellae were recovered from skin and carcasses inoculated with 10(8) or 10(2) CFU when a 2 L water rinse followed the TSP treatment, and buffered peptone was used for bacterial recovery.