Abstract
Experiments with a biofilm dissolving agent (Spray- cult) were carried out to improve recovery of bacteria on surfaces of meat processing equipment. Spray- cult is a liquid reagent intended to improve recovery of bacteria from food- equipment surfaces. This reagent contains surface active compounds to disintigrate biofilms and make bacteria accessible for microbial testing by agar contact technique. This reagent was tested in laboratory trials and under field conditions. Materials under study were polypropylene (plastic), stainless steel and aluminium. The microflora consisted of Pseudomonas sp., Brochothrix thermosphacta, Enterobacteriaceae and Gram positive cocci.
Application of this reagent before sampling with agar contact technique resulted in a significantly (t test; p> 0.05) better (median value + 38%) recovery of bacteria from experimentally contaminated surfaces. Under field conditions in meat processing companies, in 25 of 41 sampling sites, Spray- cult improved recovery rate, but this difference was not statistically significant.