Microbiological contamination of cattle and pig carcasses at five abattoirs determined by swab sampling in accordance with EU Decision 2001/471/EC

A total of 800 cattle carcasses (abattoir A: n = 200; B: n = 150; C: n = 150; D: n = 150, E: n = 150) and 650 pig carcasses (abattoir A: n = 200; B: n = 150; C: n = 150; D: n = 150) were examined at five Swiss abattoirs with an annual slaughtering capacity >10 million kg. Weekly, 10 cattle and 10 pig carcasses were sampled at four sites by the wet–dry double swab technique. From each carcass the samples were pooled and examined for total viable counts (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae. At the abattoirs, mean log TVCs from cattle carcasses ranged from 2.1 to 3.1 cm−2 and those from pig carcasses from 2.2 to 3.7 cm−2. Daily TVC mean log values showed significant differences between abattoirs (P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were detected between animal species. On average, Enterobacteriaceae were detected (i) in low counts, (ii) on 31.0% of cattle and on 20.2% of pig carcasses, and (iii) more frequently and in higher counts on cattle than on pig carcasses (P < 0.05). Data from this study indicate that the wet–dry double swab technique is suitable to determine microbiological contamination of cattle and pig carcasses in accordance with EU Decision 2001/471/EC. For samples obtained by the non-destructive technique from cattle and pig carcasses, the following microbiological performance criteria are proposed: Daily mean log values are acceptable, marginal, and unacceptable for TVC when they are <3.00, 3.00–4.00, >4.00 cm−2, and for Enterobacteriaceae when they are <1.00, 1.00–2.00, and >2.00 cm−2. However, such values have to be seen merely as baselines. It is important to implement a monitoring system based on abattoir-specific data and criteria as permitted by quality control chart methods.