Yi-mei Sun and H. W. Ockerman1
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
The meat industry is seriously trying to provide a safer meat product for public consumption. Information is needed to see if the reduction of the non-pathogenic organisms in beef encourages the growth of the remaining or accidentally-inoculated pathogens which are most likely from fecal contamination. Therefore, the effects of background microorganisms (Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Lactobacillus) on non-pathogenic E. coli (as a source of fecal contamination) were tested on aseptically obtained fresh lean ground beef. This studies showed the results of the interactions and growth between Pseudomonas and E. coli after inoculation with 2 different levels of each bacteria at 7oC during 0, 4, and 7 days of storage.
1For more information, contact at: 015 Animal Science Building, 2029 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210; 614-292-4317; Fax: 614-292-2929, Email: ockerman.2@osu.edu