According to the regulations of the Korean Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA), offals include a greater diversity of internal organs than do those of other nations. The present study was conducted to investigate the microbiological quality of diverse edible offal products from pig and cattle slaughterhouses in Korea by performing aerobic plate counts (APCs) and E. coli counts. There were significant differences in E. coli values between red offal and white offal in both pigs and cattle. Significant differences in APCs were also observed between partial red offal and white offal of pigs (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences in APCs between red offal and white offal of cattle. The most frequently detected foodborne pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (5.6% prevalence in pig offal and 12.5% % prevalence in cattle offal) followed by Clostridium perfringens (11.1 and 7.1%, respectively) and Salmonella (5.6% and 7.1%, respectively). None of the offal samples tested positive for E. coli O157:H7.

Abstract
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
  Sample collection
  Bacterial count: APCs and E. coli counts
  Detection of pathogens: S. aureus, Salmonella spp.,Cl. perfringens and E. coli O157:H7
  Statistical analysis
 RESULTS
  Bacterial counts: APC, and E. coli counts
  Statistical analysis: mean values and standarddeviations
  Detection of pathogens: S. aureus, Salmonella spp.,Cl. perfringens, and E. coli O157:H7
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES

• Jae-won Lee(College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University)
• Young Ju Lee(College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University) Corresponding Author