Avaliação da eficiência de um sistema de lavagem de carcaças na redução de patógenos em frangos de corte

Abstract

Hygienic control during poultry slaughter is essential to ensure food safety and reduce the risk of foodborne diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a carcass washing system in removing visible gastrointestinal contamination, supporting its validation by the Federal Inspection Service (SIF). The research was conducted in a federally inspected poultry slaughterhouse located in northern of Mato Grosso, Brazil, with samples collected at two points of the processing line: before washing (P1) and after washing (P2), totaling 50 carcasses sampled over five consecutive days. Enterobacteriaceae counts were used as an indicator of process hygiene and expressed as log₁₀ CFU/g. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, and variance. A reduction in the average microbial load from 5.01 to 2.84 log₁₀ CFU/g was observed after washing, corresponding to an approximate 43% decrease, indicating a positive effect of the washing system on carcass hygiene. However, high standard deviation and variance values were recorded both before and after washing, revealing considerable variability among carcasses, likely associated with the heterogeneous nature of microbiological contamination and operational conditions during processing. Although no specific legal microbiological limits apply to the evaluated sampling points, Enterobacteriaceae proved to be a relevant indicator for assessing hygienic performance in poultry slaughter. Overall, the results demonstrate that carcass washing contributes to reducing surface contamination, but its effectiveness may be enhanced through optimization of operational parameters and integration with additional control measures.