Bactericidal activity of tripotassium phosphate and potassium oleate on the native flora of poultry skin Original Research Article

The ability of solutions of tripotassium phosphate (K3PO4) and potassium oleate to reduce the population of the native bacterial flora of poultry skin was examined. Skin from commercial broiler carcasses was washed in solutions of K3PO4, potassium oleate, or K3PO4 and oleic acid then rinsed in peptone-water. Aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter, and enterococci in the rinsates and the washed skin were enumerated on the appropriate bacteriological media. Washing skin in solutions of K3PO4 significantly reduced the number of Enterobacteriaceae and Campylobacter recovered from rinsates of poultry skin, but did not effect the number of aerobic bacteria and enterococci recovered. Washing poultry skin in mixtures containing both K3PO4 and potassium oleate significantly reduced the number of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Campylobacter, and enterococci recovered in samples of skin rinsates and in blended suspensions of skin. In vitro inhibition studies showed that K3PO4 is primarily bactericidal towards Gram-negative bacteria, while potassium oleate is bactericidal toward Gram-positive bacteria. Findings indicate that mixtures of phosphates and fatty acids are effective bactericides that can reduce the number of bacteria found on poultry skin.