In-Plant Validation of Novel On-Site Ozone Generation Technology (Bio-Safe) Compared to Lactic Acid Beef Carcasses and Trim Using Natural Microbiota and Salmonella and O157:H7 Surrogate Enumeration.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of an aqueous ozone (Bio-Safe) treatment and lactic acid solutions on natural microbiota and O157:H7 and Salmonella surrogates on beef carcasses and trim in a commercial beef processing plant. For every repetition, 40 carcass and 40 trim swabs (500 cm) were collected. Samples were taken using EZ-Reach swabs, and plated into aerobic plate count (APC), coliform, and Petrifilm for enumeration. In addition, a five-strain cocktail (MP-26) of surrogates was inoculated onto trim. For every trim surrogate repetition, 30 trim pieces were sampled after attachment and after ozone intervention. Samples were diluted and counts were determined using the TEMPO system for enumeration. Ozone and lactic acid interventions significantly reduced ( < 0.003) bacterial counts in carcasses and trim samples. Moreover, lactic acid further reduced APC and coliforms in trim samples compared to ozone intervention ( < 0.009). In the surrogate trials, ozone significantly reduced ( < 0.001) surrogate concentration. Historical data from the plant revealed a reduction ( < 0.001) of presumptive O157:H7 in trim after a full year of ozone intervention implementation. The novel technology for ozone generation and application as an antimicrobial can become an alternative option that may also act synergistically with existing interventions, minimizing the risk of pathogens such as Salmonella and O157:H7.