Evaluation of Process Control to Prevent Contamination of Beef with Non-0157 Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in U.S. Export Abattoirs in Honduras and Nicaragua

• Published in: Food protection trends 2013-07, Vol.33 (4), p.224-224
• Main Authors: Chaves, Byron D, Miller, Markus F, Maradiaga, Martha, Calle, M Alexandra, Thompson, Leslie, Jackson, Samuel P, Jackson, Tanya, Garcia, Lyda G, Echeverry, Alejandro, Ruiz, Henry, Brashears, Mindy M
• Format: Magazinearticle
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Antigens; Beef; Beef cattle; Cattle; Disease; E coli; Escherichia coli; Feces; Food contamination & poisoning; Food safety; Illnesses; Intervention; Process controls; Safety management; Software
• ISSN: 1541-9576

The objectives of this project were to determine (1) the prevalence of non-0157 STEC on beef hides and carcasses in export abattoirs in Honduras (Plant A) and Nicaragua (Plant B) and (2) whether current practices and interventions controlled final carcass contamination. Samples were collected on the foreshanks from the hides, at pre-evisceration and after application of an antimicrobial treatment In Plant A, 23.3% (7/30) of hides contained at least one STEC serogroup, whereas in Plant B, 90.0% (45/50) tested positive. Pre-evisceration samples had a prevalence of 6.7% (2/30) for Plant A and of 0% for Plant B. No STEC were detected after antimicrobial intervention. Serogroups 026, 045, and 0121 were the most prevalent in plant A, with frequencies of 27/75 (36.0%), 24/75 (32.0%), and 18/75 (24.0%), respectively. In Plant B, 026 and 0121 were predominant, with 47.5% (38/80) and 46.3% (37/80), respectively. STEC were present on the hides, but current hygienic practices and interventions effectively controlled them and reduced final carcass contamination.