Effect of different concentration of H2O2 under different temperature on decontamination of salmonella on chicken skin

AbstractHydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a powerful oxidizing agent and could be used in microbial decontamination of chicken carcasses. In this study bactericidal effect of different concentrations of H2O2 in combination with temperature on decontamination of salmonella on broiler skins was studied. 100 µl of bacterial suspension was placed on skin samples, and separately were exposed to 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3% H2O2 solutions and colony counts were made. Based on the results, the bactericidal effect of 0.2% H2O2 in different temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40° C) was also studied. Data showed that 0.2% H2O2 significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced viable count by 0.85 Log in compared to the water control. Higher concentrations of H2O2 in linear shape were reduced to near 5 logs in viable counts of the bacterium. In sensory assays, samples treated with 2 and 3% H2O2 had a little bite bleached appearance. In subsequent study, H2O2 (0.2%) in 20° C made 0.92 Log reduction in viable counts. In higher temperature (25. 30, 35 and 40° C), this amount was increased to 1.17, 1.58, 1.61 and 1.69 Log reductions respectively. It was concluded that H2O2 could be used in low concentration and in combination with heat treatment for bacterial decontamination of broiler carcasses in abattoirs.