Effect of Trisodium Phosphate on Salmonellae Attached to Chicken Skin

Processed carcasses from a commercial plant were inoculated with 10⁸ or 10² colony forming units (CFU) of Salmonella typhimurium 14028. Inoculated carcasses were dipped in a 10% trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution for 15 min. Whole carcass rinses and skin homogenates were tested with and without a 2 L water rinse to remove residual TSP, using unbuffered or buffered peptone solutions. High pH values in test solutions resulting from TSP treatments could interfere with the efficient recovery of Salmonella . Salmonellae levels were reduced by 2 logs, but decreases in total aerobic counts were much smaller as a result of TSP treatments. Salmonellae were recovered from skin and carcasses inoculated with 10⁸ or 10² CFU when a 2 L water rinse followed the TSP treatment, and buffered peptone was used for bacterial recovery.