Microbiological investigation of meat wholesale premises and beef carcases in Johannesburg.

Microbiological surveillance by swabbing meat wholesaler premises revealed ineffective cleaning and build-up of bacteria. Proper cleaning, sanitation and handling resulted in a vast improvement during 1975-77. Beef samples from the neck of carcases in the wholesale trade were investigated by microbiological methods. Excessive total bacterial counts were obtained from numerous carcases. Most carcases carried coliform organisms. Roughly 90% of carcases were contaminated with E. coli I; counts exceeded 10(3)/g in 18% of carcases tested. Twenty serotypes of Salmonella were identified. Salmonella contamination decreased from nearly 5% in 1975 to less than 0,5% in 1977, and S. aureus contamination from 52% to 36% during the same period. Approximately 30% of carcases revealed contamination with unidentified clostridial species. The results indicate the need for stricter control over the production and slaughter of animals and over the handling of carcases in the wholesale trade.