抄録
The microbiological quality of chicken meat samples produced in several different areas in Japan was investigated. The total aerobic bacteria were between 8×104 to 6×106 per gram. Coliforms were 9×101 to 2×104 per gram for Escherichia, Proteus and Klebsiella. The dominant putrefactive bacteria under chilled conditions were determined to be lactic acid bacteria, Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium. Low dose γ-irradiation at 1 kGy resulted in disappearance of the dominant putrefactive bacteria, coliforms and Staphylococcus on plate agars. The shelf life of irradiated chicken meat at 1 kGy was prolonged 3 times compared with non-irradiated chicken meat and could be stored for 6 days at 10°C storage. Irradiation of chicken meat at 3 kGy reduced the aforementioned dominant flora to the yeasts and Psychrobacter. Salmonella was detected slightly in some samples and was reduced to a 10-4 survival by a 1 kGy irradiation dose.
