Monitoring of hygiene indicator microorganisms in a line of cattle slaughter in a slaughter plant enabled for export in western Paraná

Abstract

Indicators microorganisms can be used as a method for evaluating the sanitary quality of food products, indicating the suitability of conditions for obtaining, processing and storage of food. This study sought to evaluate surface contamination of cattle carcasses that come from a slaughter plant under Federal Inspection in western Paraná by mesophilic bacteria (AM), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), coliform at 35°C (TC) and E. coli (EC). Surface samples were collected from 25 carcasses, each at 4 different points of slaughter, for non-destructive method. The samples were diluted in decimal scale and incubated in Petrifilm ® plates. Were found averages of 1.46; 0.3; 0.23 and 0.21 log CFU / cm ² for AM, EB, CT and EC, respectively. The values to be found were well below those recommended by the decision 471/2001 of the European Union and several other authors surveyed, indicating the effectiveness of the hygienic process industry.