Detection of enterobacteria in broiler carcasses for sale in the market

Abstract

, to which three groups of broiler carcasses produced in the city of Teresina were analyzed: without refrigeration, labeling and inspection (n=8); originated from local production, refrigerated, labeled, and inspected (n=8); and originated from other states, frozen, packed, labeled, and inspected (n=8). The collected samples were analyzed regarding the determination of the Most Probable Number (NMP) of total and thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli, and detection of Salmonella spp., besides the measurement of the temperature of the carcasses. The logarithmic means of thermotolerant and total coliforms in the broiler carcasses varied from 0.70 to 4.66 NMP/g and from 0.73 to 4.66 NMP/g, respectively. The bacteria E. coli and Salmonella spp. were also detected in samples with refrigeration and inspection (25 % and 12.5 %, respectively). As for the marketing temperature, only the broiler carcass samples which were chilled and frozen were within the standard of the Brazilian legislation. The results observed in this study indicate the need for improvement in the processing, handling, and storage of the broiler meat marketed in Teresina, PI.