A comparison of microbial contamination on sheep/goat carcasses in a modern Indian abattoir and traditional meat shops

The microbial load on sheep/goat carcasses was investigated in Deonar abattoir and traditional meat shops in Mumbai. A total of 96 swab samples from carcass sites were collected and analysed from the abattoir, while 144 swab samples from carcass sites were analysed from three meat shops. These samples were processed for total viable count (TVC) and differential counts. The average TVC after flaying, evisceration and washing in the abattoir was 5.51 ± 0.36, 6.06 ± 0.53 and 5.13 ± 0.58 CFU/cm2, respectively. Pooled average TVC in the shops after flaying, evisceration and washing was 5.83 ± 0.42, 6.48 ± 0.27 and 6.17 ± 0.41 log CFU/cm2, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference (P < 0.01) among TVC counts after washing between abattoir and the shops. The highest prevalence of Micrococcus spp. and S. epidermidis was noticed during various operations in both the abattoir and the shops. Although Salmonella spp. could not be isolated from any of the carcass sites in the abattoir, in the shops it showed 16.4% prevalence at all the sites irrespective of operations. Overall study revealed that level of contamination in the traditional meat shops was significantly higher compared to the abattoir. However, the microbial contamination in the abattoir is also high if we compare these results to the reports from developed countries and do not conform to EU specifications. The findings of this study reflect the hygiene status of meat production in the developing world.