Approaches to Meat Safety

Assessing the Role of Sow Bile for the Exposure of Salmonella to Humans

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Abstract

We investigated the exposure risk to consumers associated with potential contamination on sow carcasses with bile containing Salmonella. A total of 300 samples of bile were taken aseptically from sows on the largest sow abattoir in Denmark. The samples were subjected to selective enrichment followed by a sensitive chromogenic medium (RAPID’Salmonella) to select for Salmonella and other family members. Subsequently, MALDI-TOF was used to identify bacteria appearing on the agar plates at species level. No Salmonella-positive samples were found in 300 samples. A simulation model was set up to estimate the number of bile-contaminated carcasses with Salmonella leaving the abattoir in one year. Two different scenarios were run: a) assuming the probabilities of bile detection provided by the food business operator or b) provided by the competent authority. The results of simulation showed that the number of bile-contaminated sow carcasses with Salmonella was low irrespective of which scenario was run. In conclusion, bile contamination is not a relevant source of Salmonella contamination in Danish sows. Still, bile contamination should be prevented as it is resulting in meat waste, because bile contamination is a quality issue.

How to Cite:

Just, M. S., Skive, B., Ingmer, H., Møgelmose, V., Lindegaard, L. L. & Alban, L., (2023) “Assessing the Role of Sow Bile for the Exposure of Salmonella to Humans”, SafePork 14(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/safepork.16343