Analysis of microbiome in raw chicken meat from butcher shops and packaged products in South Korea to detect the potential risk of foodborne illness. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Hyo-Eun; Lee, Jin-Jae; Lee, Min-Jung; Kim, Bong-Soo
• Is Part Of: Food research international. Volume 122(2019)
• Page Start: 517
• Page End: 527
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Chicken carcass -- Microbiota -- Whole metagenome -- Foodborne illness; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Canada -- Periodicals; Food Technology -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; Food-Processing Industry -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Canada -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Food industry and trade; Canada; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.05.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-9969

Abstract

Abstract: Chicken meat is one of the most widely consumed meats worldwide. The microbiota on the whole body of chicken is a potential source of foodborne pathogens that can be transmitted to humans during the preparation of raw meat. However, to date, there have been no studies comparing the microbiota of packaged chicken products and those of raw chicken carcasses from butcher shops, although such information could be useful for identifying sources of contamination in cases of food poisoning. We addressed this in the present study by analyzing the microbiota of 80 chicken meat samples collected from various butcher shops and processing plants in South Korea with the Illumina MiSeq system based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The bacterial amounts in chicken samples were estimated by quantitative real-time PCR. Although different microbial members were present in unpackaged meat from butcher shops as compared to those in packaged products from commercial sources, seasonal differences (sample obtained in January vs. July) in microbiota were more significant even in the packaged products from the same company. We also investigated the influence of contaminated foodborne pathogen on the indigenous microbiota (64 chicken samples) by artificially inoculated with Salmonella enterica serotype Virchow on chicken carcasses under various conditions, and carrying out 16S rRNA gene and whole metagenome sequencing. The amount of contaminated Salmonella in chicken meat samples was the highest and lowest in samples stored at 27 °C and 4 °C after washing, respectively. Additionally, the relative abundance of virulence genes was detected lower in samples stored at 4 °C after washing in both butcher shop and commercial samples. These results could be useful for reducing the risk of foodborne illness caused by cross-contamination during the preparation of chicken meat. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: The microbiota in unpacked chicken carcasses and packed products was compared. Seasonal differences in microbiota were greater than between regions and companies. The potential risk of foodborne illness might be higher in July than in January. The alteration of microbiome by contamination of S. Virchow was analyzed. Salmonella contamination was the highest in chicken meat samples stored at 27 °C.