The primary objective of this study was to characterise (microbiology and physical parameters) beef carcasses and primals during chilled storage. A minor aim was to compare observed growth of key ...spoilage bacteria on carcasses with that predicted by ComBase and the Food Safety Spoilage Predictor (FSSP). Total viable count (TVC), total Enterobacteriacae count (TEC), Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Brochothrix thermosphacta and Clostridium spp. were monitored on beef carcasses (n = 30) and primals (n = 105) during chilled storage using EC Decision 2001/471/EC and ISO sampling/laboratory procedures. The surface and/or core temperature, pH and water activity (aw) were also recorded. Clostridium (1.89 log10 cfu/cm2) and Pseudomonas spp. (2.12 log10 cfu/cm2) were initially the most prevalent bacteria on carcasses and primals, respectively. The shortest mean generation time (G) was observed on carcasses with Br. thermosphacta (20.3 h) and on primals with LAB (G = 68.8 h) and Clostridium spp. (G = 67 h). Over the course of the experiment the surface temperature decreased from 37 °C to 0 °C, pH from 7.07 to 5.65 and aw from 0.97 to 0.93 The observed Pseudomonas spp. and Br. thermosphacta growth was more or less within the range of predictions of Combase. In contrast, the FSSP completely overestimated the growth of LAB. This study contributes to the very limited microbiological data on beef carcasses and primals during chilling.
•Pseudomonas concentrations on beef primals at packaging increased during 6 weeks vacuum packaged storage.•Brochothrix thermosphacta grew faster than lactic acid bacteria on vacuum packaged beef primals.•Combase may be used to predict Pseudomonas spp. and Br. thermosphacta growth on beef carcasses.
Blown pack spoilage (BPS) is a major issue for the beef industry. Etiological agents of BPS involve members of a group of
species, including
which has the ability to produce gas, mostly carbon ...dioxide, under anaerobic psychotrophic growth conditions. This spore-forming bacterium grows slowly under laboratory conditions, and it can take up to 3 months to produce a workable culture. These characteristics have limited the study of this commercially challenging bacterium. Consequently information on this bacterium is limited and no effective controls are currently available to confidently detect and manage this production risk. In this study the complete genome of
DSM 8809 was determined by SMRT
sequencing. The genome consists of a circular chromosome of 4.7 Mbp along with a single plasmid carrying a potential tellurite resistance gene
and a Tn
like resolvase-encoding gene
. The genome sequence was searched for central metabolic pathways that would support its biochemical profile and several enzymes contributing to this phenotype were identified. Several putative antibiotic/biocide/metal resistance-encoding genes and virulence factors were also identified in the genome, a feature that requires further research. The availability of the genome sequence will provide a basic blueprint from which to develop valuable biomarkers that could support and improve the detection and control of this bacterium along the beef production chain.
Active (anti-microbial) packaging was prepared using three different formulations; Auranta FV; Inbac-MDA and sodium octanoate at two concentrations (2.5 and 3.5 times their minimum inhibitory ...concentration (MIC, the lowest concentration that will inhibit the visible growth of the organisms) against
, DSMZ 8809). Inoculated beef samples were packaged using the active packaging and monitored for 100 days storage at 2 °C for blown pack spoilage. The time to the onset of blown pack spoilage was significantly (
< 0.01) increased using Auranta FV and sodium octanoate (caprylic acid sodium salt) at both concentrations. Moreover, sodium octanoate packs had significantly (
< 0.01) delayed blown pack spoilage as compared to Auranta FV. It was therefore concluded that Auranta FV or sodium octanoate, incorporated into the packaging materials used for vacuum packaged beef, would inhibit blown pack spoilage and in the case of the latter, well beyond the 42 days storage period currently required for beef primals.
Integrated care has been posited as an important strategy for overcoming service fragmentation problems and achieving the Quadruple Aim of health care. This paper describes the Central Coast ...Integrative Care Program (CCICP) a complex, multi-component intervention addressing 3 target populations and more than 40 sub-projects of different scale, priority and maturity. Details are provided of the implementation including activities undertaken for each target population, in the context of the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) strategies and priorities. Key lessons are drawn from the formative evaluation.
A mixed methods approach to the formative evaluation was taken. Key stakeholders, professional staff with an in-depth knowledge of the program, were invited to complete surveys (n = 27) and semi-structured interviews (n = 23). The evaluation employed co-design principles with dialogue between CCICP partners and researchers throughout the process and sought to achieve a shared understanding of the dynamic context of the program, and the barriers and enablers for the various interventions.
Seven interdependent key lessons have been identified. These distil down to the setting of clear objectives aligning with all the goals of partners, developing strong relationships, leadership at multiple levels and communication and the building of a common language.
This study investigated the fate of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157 on hot boned versus conventionally chilled beef. Beef samples were individually inoculated with S. Typhimurium ...ATCC 14028, S. Typhimurium 844, E. coli O157 EDL 933 or E. coli T13. Half the samples were subject to the same time-temperature chilling profile used for conventionally chilling beef carcasses while the other half was subject to hot boned conditions. The surface pH (5.5) and aw (0.95 to 0.97) were stable. S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157 counts, which decreased by up to 1.0 and 1.5log10cfucm−2, respectively, were statistically similar (P>0.05), regardless of the chilling regime applied, with the exception of E. coli O157 EDL 933, where the counts on hot boned beef were significantly (P<0.05) higher. It was concluded that any decrease in pathogenic bacteria during beef chilling may be significantly (P<0.05) less for hot boned beef depending on the bacterial strain.
Hot boning may therefore result in an increased risk to the consumer.
•Total viable counts (TVC) and total Enterobacteriaceae counts (TEC) were similar or reduced on beef after 24h chilling.•Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157 counts decreased on beef during conventional chilling.•S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157 counts decreased on hot boned-vacuum packaged beef samples.•The decrease in pathogenic bacteria during beef chilling may be significantly (P < 0.05) less for hot boned beef.
Primals were prepared from beef Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL), psoas major (PM), quadriceps femoris (QF) and semitendinosus (S) muscles from cold and hot boned carcasses, vacuum-packaged and ...stored for 42 or 100days at 2°C and 7°C. Storage temperature, carcass or primal surface temperature, pH and aw were monitored. Samples were taken periodically and tested for total viable count mesophilic (TVCm), TVC psychrophilic (TVCp), total Enterobacteriaceae count (TEC), presumptive Pseudomonas spp., lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Clostridium spp. and Brochothrix thermosphacta. A fifth muscle, biceps femoris (BF), was used to examine the impact of hot boning on blown pack spoilage (BPS). Primal counts increased to 6–7log10cfucm−2 after 6weeks. Significantly (P<0.05) higher TEC, Pseudomonas spp. and Br. thermosphacta counts were observed on cold versus hot boned primals. In contrast, significantly (P<0.05) higher TVC, LAB and Clostridium spp. concentrations were obtained on hot boned beef. Moreover, BPS pack distension/bursting occurred considerably sooner in hot boned product.
•Key spoilage bacteria grew more rapidly on hot boned primals.•Total viable counts (TVC) were statistically (P<0.05) higher on hot boned primals after 6weeks storage.•Blown pack spoilage occurred more quickly on hot boned primals.
A set of real-time PCR methods for the detection of C. estertheticum, C. gasigenes and C. ruminantium, the causative agents of blown pack spoilage (BPS) in vacuum packaged beef, was developed. Robust ...validation of the sensitivity and specificity was carried out in the three matrices (beef meat drip, wet environmental swabs and dry environmental swabs) as encountered in our testing laboratory and against Clostridium strains (n=76) and non-Clostridium strains (n=36). It was possible to detect 4–5 spores per ml for C. estertheticum, 2 spores per ml for C. gasigenes and 8 spores per ml for C. ruminantium, without the need for enrichment of the samples. This high sensitivity is particularly important for the beef sector, not just for testing spoiled product but also in the early detection of contaminated beef and in validation of sporicidal cleaning procedures for critical pieces of equipment such as the vacuum packaging machine, which have the potential to contaminate large volumes of product.
INTRODUCTIONIntegrated care has been posited as an important strategy for overcoming service fragmentation problems and achieving the Quadruple Aim of health care. This paper describes the Central ...Coast Integrative Care Program (CCICP) a complex, multi-component intervention addressing 3 target populations and more than 40 sub-projects of different scale, priority and maturity. Details are provided of the implementation including activities undertaken for each target population, in the context of the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) strategies and priorities. Key lessons are drawn from the formative evaluation. METHODSA mixed methods approach to the formative evaluation was taken. Key stakeholders, professional staff with an in-depth knowledge of the program, were invited to complete surveys (n = 27) and semi-structured interviews (n = 23). The evaluation employed co-design principles with dialogue between CCICP partners and researchers throughout the process and sought to achieve a shared understanding of the dynamic context of the program, and the barriers and enablers for the various interventions. KEY LESSONS AND CONCLUSIONSeven interdependent key lessons have been identified. These distil down to the setting of clear objectives aligning with all the goals of partners, developing strong relationships, leadership at multiple levels and communication and the building of a common language.
As awareness and identification of sex trafficking and exploitation have grown, so has the need for improved social work responses. In this volume, expert practitioners, survivors, and researchers ...model the best practices for working with this population, using case examples and illustrative guides. Chapters cover the common challenges of working with trafficked and exploited people and how to overcome them, including topics like runaway youth, trauma- bonds, system-level challenges, and resource scarcity. Intended as a teaching tool for students or a supplementary manual for organizations, this book emphasizes interventions and treatments, working with specific populations, programmatic design recommendations, preventative work, and outreach interventions. Researchers, students, and practitioners will find a comprehensive guide to the emerging field of practice with sex trafficking and exploitation survivors.