Microbiological quality of Australian sheep meat in 2004

The third national baseline microbiological survey of Australian sheep carcases and frozen boneless sheep meat was conducted in 2004. Carcases (n=1117) sampled at 20 slaughter establishments were found to have a mean log total viable count (TVC, 25°C) of 2.28 cfu/cm(2) and Escherichia coli was isolated from 43.0% carcases with a mean log 0.03cfu/cm(2) on positive samples. In samples from 10 boning (fabrication) plants (n=560) the mean log TVC for frozen boneless sheep meat was 1.85cfu/g and the mean log count for the 8.2% of samples with detectable E. coli was 1.39cfu/g. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from 6/1117 carcases and from 1/560 boneless samples. Salmonella was isolated from 0/1117 carcases and from 3/560 samples of boneless product. Campylobacter sp. were isolated from 4/1117 carcases and from 1/560 boneless samples. Coagulase positive staphylococci were isolated from 23.4% to 32.7% of carcases and boneless sheep meat samples, respectively, with positive samples having a mean log count of 0.93cfu/cm(2) and 1.14cfu/g, respectively. The low level of bacteria described here is consistent with a very low risk to human health due to bacterial hazards in Australian sheep meat.