Journal of food protection

1944-90978632023MarJournal of food protectionJ Food ProtEfficacy of Short Thermal Treatment Time Against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on the Surface of Fresh Beef.10004010004010.1016/j.jfp.2023.100040S0362-028X(23)06243-9Thermal treatment interventions consistently provide effective pathogen reductions. However, the cost of maintaining high temperature of 95°C in order to raise the surface temperature of carcasses to 82°C is very expensive. Therefore, beef processors need to identify thermal application times and temperatures that optimize the treatment effects with less maintenance cost. The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of hot water or steam at 71°C for 6 s and cascade e-ion plasma treatment for 2 s in reducing pathogens on the surface of fresh beef compared to the thermal treatment at 82°C for 15 s. Hot water at 71°C for 6 s reduced Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella by 2.38 and 2.48 log CFU/cm², while steam treatment at 71°C for 6 s reduced E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella by 2.94 and 3.06 log CFU/cm², respectively. Cascade e-ion plasma treatment for 2 s reduced E. coli O157:H7 on surface of fresh beef by 1.89 log CFU/cm². The findings indicate that short treatment time with appropriate temperature could serve as an effective carcass intervention to improve the safety of fresh beef.Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.KalchayanandNorasakNU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Roman L. Hruska, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA. Electronic address: norasak.kalchayanand@usda.gov.WangRongRU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Roman L. Hruska, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA.BrownTedTCargill Meat Solutions, 151 North Main Street, Wichita, KS 67202, USA.WheelerTommy LTLU.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Roman L. Hruska, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA.engJournal ArticleResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.20230118