Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2026

Biocontained Carcass Composting for Control of Infectious Disease Outbreak in Livestock
Published on: May 6, 2010
Chilling and trimming effects on the microbial populations of pork carcasses
M A Carr1, L D Thompson, M F Miller
1Department of Animal Science and Food Technology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409-2162, USA.
Abstract:
The effects of chilling (normal chill or freeze chill) and trimming (hot fat trim or no fat trim) on the microbial populations of pork carcases were evaluated. In a two-part study, composited ham, loin, belly, and shoulder samples from 30 park carcasses had similar aerobic plate counts, averaging 5.5 log10 CFU/cm2. The nofat trim, normal chill procedure typically used in the industry, however, produced higher coliform and Staphylococcus spp. counts (P < 0.05). The hot fat trim, freeze chill treatment had the lowest lactic acid bacteria counts. Only 1 sample in 60 tested positive for Salmonella spp. Vacuum-packaged hams and loins stored at 4 degrees C for 14 days had similar (P > 0.05) aerobic plate counts, lactic acid bacteria and Staphylococcus spp. counts regardless of trim, chill, or the location of treatment, averaging 5.7, 6.3 and 1.4 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively. Hams had higher counts than loins all three days; however, only the difference on day 2 was significant. The desire to reduce microbial populations on pork carcasses as a food-safety issue and the coming implementation of hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP) programs warrants the use of trimming and chilling methods as critical control points or good manufacturing practices and standard operating procedures in the pork slaughter, processing, and packaging industry.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
Biological Methods for Microbial Control
Key Techniques in Microbiology
Principles of Food Preservation
Methods of Controlling Food Spoilage

