The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ionized calcium treatment on total bacterial cross-contamination of chicken carcass surface in the slaughtering process. The growth of Escherichia coli was strongly inhibited in a medium prepared by using a 0.5% ionized calcium solution. The total bacterial cross-contamination of chicken carcass surface and the scalding water was significantly increased as the number of scalding was increased (p<0.05). The total bacterial cross-contamination of chicken carcass surface reached a plateau without a further increase as scalding was performed consecutively for 10 or more times. The total bacterial cross-contamination of the scalding water was significantly increased as the number of scalding was increased (p<0.05). The total bacterial cross-contamination of chicken carcass surface of the chickens raised on a floor type farm was significantly higher than that of the chickens raised in a battery cages (p<0.05). The total bacterial cross-contamination of chicken carcass surface of the chickens raised on a floor type farm was significantly lower in the 0.5% ionized calcium solution treatment group than in the control group (p<0.05).

• 박병성(강원대학교 동물생명과학대학) | B.S. Park (College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701) Corresponding author
• 진지영(주식회사 지투지) | J. Y. Jin (g2g Co. Ltd, Yonginsi Kyungkido 446-901, Korea)