Microbiological effects of carcass decontaminating treatments at four beef packing plants

The effects on the microbiological conditions of carcasses of decontaminating treatments at four beef packing plants were examined. Spraying with 2% lactic acid, vacuum-hot water cleaning and trimming were generally ineffective. Washing reduced numbers of bacteria on carcasses when numbers were relatively high but not when they were relatively low. Pasteurizing with steam or hot water was consistently effective. The results suggest that the maximum reduction of bacteria on carcasses may be obtained by washing and pasteurizing without the other decontaminating treatments that are currently applied to carcasses.