Salmonella enterica and enterobacteria in pig carcasses processed on different slaughter days

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the contamination by Salmonella sp. and enterobacteria in pig carcasses from the first and last batches slaughtered in a same week, at different stages of the slaughtering line. Samples were collected from the first and last batches slaughtered on Monday and Friday of each week, respectively, during five weeks, totaling ten batches. From each batch, ten carcasses were collected in eight stages of the slaughter line: bleeding, scalding, singeing/evisceration, inspection, spinal cord removal, final washing, blast chilling, and after cooling. A total of 800 samples were analyzed for Salmonella sp. and enterobacteria quantification. The last batch of the week showed twice the chances of the pig carcasses being contaminated with Salmonella sp. and, consequently, a greater amount of enterobacteria (1.00 log₁₀ CFU per square centimeter) than the first batch (0.88 log₁₀ CFC per square centimeter). A higher count of enterobacteria was also observed in the stages of bleeding (2.37 log₁₀ CFU per square centimeter) and scalding (2.36 log₁₀ CFU per square centimeter). The last batches slaughtered in the week show a greater contamination than the first ones, and there is a greater contamination of carcasses by Salmonella sp. and enterobacteria in the initial stages of pig slaughter, i.e., at bleeding and scalding.