THE DYNAMICS OF THE MICROBIAL LOAD OF THE EDIBLE OFFALS OF POULTRY STORED UNDER REFRIGERATED CONDITIONS

Paula Viorela Druc, Elena Hriscu (Ursu), M.G. Usturoi

Abstract
   Food contamination with pathogens is an important public health issue because it can lead to human food poisoning.
   This work is an investigation of the microbiological quality of the edible offal of chicken marketed in Romania. The bacteriological analysis was performed on 5 samples from every organ studied, harvested both in the first day they were obtained,as well as during storage at +3°C. Tests were performed to detect the presence or absence of microorganisms, conducted according to standards in use, and the results obtained indicated that both the total number of germs (TNG) as well as Enterobacteriaceae were recorded higher in the samples of gizzard. The dynamic analysis of the TNG and bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family revealed a growth from the contol stage to the other stages. Thus, from a statisticall standpoint it was observed that TNG of the gizzard has recorded the first statistically significant differences at day 3, while the liver and heart had highlighted differences in the fourth day. The Enterobacteriaceae bacteria recorded the first differences in the 3rd day from the samples of liver and gizzards, respectively in the 4th day from the hearts. The bacteria Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens were absent in all samples analyzed.
   The results of this study emphasizes the constant need for microbiological evaluation of edible poultry offal.

Key words: offal, quality, microbiological, chilling