Salmonella prevalence associated with chicken parts with and without skin from retail establishments in Atlanta metropolitan area, Georgia

•Salmonella presence in skin-on chicken parts was significantly higher than skin-off parts at the retail level.•Most common Salmonella serotypes were Heidelberg and Kentucky.•Higher salmonellosis risk associated with handling skin-on chicken parts than skin-off chicken parts at retail level.

The objective of this study was to determine Salmonella prevalence in chicken parts with and without skin collected from retail establishments in Atlanta metropolitan area (Georgia, USA). Retail packs (n = 525) of cut-up chicken parts (i.e., breasts and thighs with skin-on and skin-off, and drumsticks with skin-on) were collected from supermarket stores in five counties in Atlanta metropolitan area. The skin-on and skin-off retail chicken packs by part type were paired by production company, plant numbers, and sell-by date. The skin from skin-on parts was removed and analyzed for presence of Salmonella; whereas the top layer of meat from skin-off parts was removed and analyzed for this pathogen. Additionally, Salmonella isolates were genotypically characterized. Salmonella prevalence in the skin of chicken breasts (44.7%) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in the meat (12.3%) of skin-off breast samples. Similarly, the prevalence was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the skin of chicken thighs (40.9%) than that in the meat of skin-off thighs (22.8%). Salmonella prevalence in skin of drumsticks was 41%. Among the 117 isolates characterized, eight Salmonella serotypes were identified including Heidelberg (46.1%), Kentucky (26.4%), Typhimurium (11.1%), Infantis (5.1%), Seftenberg (2.5%), and Thompson (0.8%). High clonality of Salmonella isolates within and between chicken part type was observed. Skin-on chicken part may act as a greater source of Salmonella transmission to consumers compared to skin-off chicken parts.