Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Detection and Isolation of Campylobacter spp. from Raw Meat
Published on: February 23, 2024
Campylobacter in chicken livers and their destruction by pan frying
R Whyte1, J A Hudson, C Graham
1Food Safety Programme, Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Aim:
To enumerate Campylobacter spp. on the external surface and internal portions of chicken livers, and to assess the cooking required to inactivate naturally present cells.
Methods And Results:
Of 30 livers tested all yielded Campylobacter spp. on their surfaces and 90% were found to contain the organism in internal tissue. Four (13%) livers contained >10(4) MPN campylobacters, and an additional seven (23%) contained >10(3) MPN campylobacters per liver. The internal temperature of pan-fried livers under the conditions used reached a maximum of 70-80 degrees C, and maintaining this temperature for 2-3 min was necessary to inactivate naturally occurring Campylobacter spp. All isolates identified were either C. jejuni or C. coli.
Conclusions:
Chicken livers represent a potential source of human campylobacteriosis as they contained >10(4) MPN per liver in 13% of the samples tested. Pan-frying can produce an acceptable product that is safe to eat. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THIS STUDY: The data provided can be used in exposure assessments of Campylobacter in poultry products in terms of both quantitative data and assessing pan-frying and its ability to destroy campylobacters.
