The load of mesophylic, fecal and total coliform microorganisms on lamb carcass was assessed after 12 hours of slaughtering. Meat was then cut into 3 steaks about 3cm thick. Steaks were dipped for 1 min in either 1% acetic acid solution or plain water, packaged in nylon-polyethylene bags and vacuum-sealed before storing at 1°C. On days 3, 13, 23, 33 and 48 of aging meats were analyzed for mesophilic and psycrotrophic bacteria, moulds and yeasts, total and fecal coliform bacteria, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing Clostridia. Mesophilic and psycrophilic bacterial counts were lower (p<0.05) in meats treated with acetic acid than in the untreated meats on days 13 and 23 and on days 3 and 13, respectively. Mould and yeast counts were lower (p<0.05) in meats treated with acetic acid as compared with those untreated only on days 3 and 13 of aging. On day 3 of aging treated meats were lower (p<0.05) in both total and fecal coliform counts than untreated meats. Meat samples were found positive for Salmonella with 3, 13 and 23 days of aging and negative with 33 and 48 days of aging. Sulfite-reducing bacteria were absent in meat samples all through the experimental period. It can be concluded that dipping lamb meat pieces in 1% acetic acid and the aging conditions used in this study can keep low counts of mesophilic, psycrotrophic, and coliform bacteria, as well as mould and yeast for 13 days. Inhibition of Salmonella, however, is observed only after 33 days of aging.
lamb carcass; fecal coliforms; Salmonella; moulds and yeasts; psycrotrophic bacteria
