Campylobacter in chicken livers and their destruction by pan frying

Abstract

Aim: To enumerate Campylobacter spp. on the external surface and internal portions of chicken livers, and to assess the cooking required to inactivate naturally present cells. Methods and Results: Of 30 livers tested all yielded Campylobacter spp. on their surfaces and 90% were found to contain the organism in internal tissue. Four (13%) livers contained >10⁴ MPN campylobacters, and an additional seven (23%) contained >10³ MPN campylobacters per liver. The internal temperature of pan-fried livers under the conditions used reached a maximum of 70–80 °C, and maintaining this temperature for 2–3 min was necessary to inactivate naturally occurring Campylobacter spp. All isolates identified were either C. jejuni or C. coli. Conclusions: Chicken livers represent a potential source of human campylobacteriosis as they contained >10⁴ MPN per liver in 13% of the samples tested. Pan-frying can produce an acceptable product that is safe to eat. Significance and Impact of this study: The data provided can be used in exposure assessments of Campylobacter in poultry products in terms of both quantitative data and assessing pan-frying and its ability to destroy campylobacters.