MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF MUTTON INTENDED FOR EXPORT FROM ElKADARO EXPORT SlAUGHTER HOUSE, SUDAN

Abstract

The study is planned to evaluate the hygienic quality of mutton intended for export from Elkadaro Slaughter House on basis of surface bacterial contamination.  Seventy five samples (swabs) were collected during five visits, 15 samples in each visit (five samples for each: slaughter hall, slaughter house chiller and the refrigerated vehicle at Airport after unloading). The results of the bacterial counts revealed relatively high counts which(ranged between 1×10³ - 6×10⁶   CFU/ cm²), but without critical contamination levels according to the cut-off  (critical) point for  fresh meat (10⁶  CFU/ cm²) and chilled meat (10⁷   CFU/ cm²) .