Effect of succinic acid on elimination of salmonella in chicken meat

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selected concentrations of succinic acid on the survival of Salmonella on microbiological media and on the surfaces of chicken carcasses. Samples were inoculated with Salmonella serovars Enteritidis, Typhimurium, Hadar, Infantis, and Virchow. Each strain from each dilution was plated on nutrient agar without chemical substances (pH 6.75, control) or with 0.02% (pH 5.73), 0.05% (pH 4.77), 0.1% (pH 4.42), or 0.25% (pH 3.90) succinic acid. The addition of 0.25% succinic acid in agar medium completely inhibited the growth of all Salmonella strains tested. The 150 samples of broiler chicken breasts were immersed for 2 min in 80 mL of a 107 CFU/mL Salmonella cocktail. The samples were then transferred to sterile beakers with 250 mL of 2 and 5% succinic acid for 5 min. With 2% succinic acid, Salmonella reductions (compared with the control) were 1.27 to 1.47 log CFU/g. With 5% succinic acid, reductions were 2.00 to 3.20 log CFU/g. The results indicate that it is possible to reduce the level of Salmonella on broiler chicken carcasses by immersing them in a 2% succinic acid solution.