Evaluation of the effect of cooling on the microbiological quality of lamb carcasses

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effects of cooling on microbiological quality of lamb carcasses. Total Aerobic Bacteria Count (TABC), Enterobactericeae counts and the presence of Salmonella spp. were investigated in accordance with the Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Microbiological Criteria and European Union Commission Regulation 2073/2005. Sampling was carried out on aseptic conditions from the surface of 25 randomly selected lambs brought to slaughterhouse. The results showed that the mean TABC were $2.24±0.087 log cfu/cm^2$ before cooling and $2.41±0.061 log cfu/cm^2$ after cooling (P>0.05). The mean Enterobactericeae count was 0.21±0.11 log cfu/cm2 before cooling and $0.69±0.13 log cfu/cm^2$ after cooling (P