Microbiocidal Control in the Processing of Poultry

Abstract

This invention provides processes comprising contacting at least one unopened defeathered poultry carcass with water containing a microbiocidal composition, optionally opening and eviscerating at least one unopened defeathered poultry carcass that was wetted; subjecting at least one eviscerated poultry carcass to inside-outside washing with water containing a microbiocidal composition; placing at least one eviscerated poultry carcass in a chill tank into contact with chill water containing a microbiocidal composition; contacting parts of poultry resulting from processing of poultry containing a microbiocidal composition. The water in these processes contains a microbiocidal composition comprising I) one or more surfactants and II) a microbiocidal amount of a biocide. The surfactants include amine oxides and/or betaines. The biocides include various chlorine-based and bromine-based biocides; chlorine dioxide; and peracetic acid.

Claims

1. A process which comprises contacting parts of poultry resulting from processing of poultry with water containing a microbiocidal composition, characterized in that the microbiocidal composition comprises I) one or more surfactants which is one or more amine oxides having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms, and/or one or more betaines having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms; and II) a microbiocidal amount of: (1) one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (2) one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (3) chlorine dioxide; (4) chlorine; (5) hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis; (6) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites; (7) monochloramine; (8) peracetic acid; or (9) a bromine-based biocide formed in water from A) (i) bromine chloride or bromine chloride and bromine, with or without conjoint use of chlorine, and (ii) overbased alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid and/or sulfamic acid, alkali metal base, and water, wherein (i) and (ii) are in relative proportions such that there is an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93, and wherein the bromine-based biocide has a pH of greater than 7; or B) (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, one or more alkali metal bromides, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, (ii) a chlorine source, (iii) optionally at least one inorganic base, and (iv) optionally sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid.

2. A process which comprises placing at least one eviscerated poultry carcass in a chill tank and into contact with chill water, the chill water containing a microbiocidal composition or subjecting at least one eviscerated poultry carcass to inside-outside washing with water containing a microbiocidal composition, characterized in that the microbiocidal composition comprises: I) one or more surfactants which is one or more amine oxides having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms, and/or one or more betaines having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms; and II) a microbiocidal amount of: (1) one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (2) one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (3) chlorine dioxide; (4) chlorine; (5) hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis; (6) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites; (7) monochloramine; (8) peracetic acid; or (9) a bromine-based biocide formed in water from A) (i) bromine chloride or bromine chloride and bromine, with or without conjoint use of chlorine, and (ii) overbased alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid and/or sulfamic acid, alkali metal base, and water, wherein (i) and (ii) are in relative proportions such that there is an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93, and wherein the bromine-based biocide has a pH of greater than 7; or B) (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, at least one alkali metal bromide, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, (ii) a chlorine source, (iii) optionally at least one inorganic base, and (iv) optionally sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid.

3. (canceled)

4. A process which comprises contacting at least one unopened defeathered poultry carcass with water containing a microbiocidal composition, whereby the exterior of said carcass is wetted by such composition, characterized in that the microbiocidal composition comprises I) one or more surfactants which is one or more amine oxides having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms, and/or one or more betaines having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms; and II) a microbiocidal amount of: (1) one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (2) one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (3) chlorine dioxide; (4) chlorine; (5) hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis; (6) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites; (7) monochloramine; (8) peracetic acid; or (9) a bromine-based biocide formed in water from A) (i) bromine chloride or bromine chloride and bromine, with or without conjoint use of chlorine, and (ii) overbased alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid and/or sulfamic acid, alkali metal base, and water, wherein (i) and (ii) are in relative proportions such that there is an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93, and wherein the bromine-based biocide has a pH of greater than 7; or B) (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, one or more alkali metal bromides, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, (ii) a chlorine source, (iii) optionally at least one inorganic base, and (iv) optionally sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid.

5. A process as in claim 4, which process further comprises: opening and eviscerating at least one unopened defeathered poultry carcass that was wetted; and subjecting the opened and eviscerated poultry carcass to inside-outside washing with water containing a microbiocidally-effective amount of microbiocidal composition I) one or more surfactants which is one or more amine oxides having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms, and/or one or more betaines having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms; and II) a microbiocidal amount of: (1) one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (2) one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (3) chlorine dioxide; (4) chlorine; (5) hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis; (6) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites; (7) monochloramine; (8) peracetic acid; or (9) a bromine-based biocide formed in water from A) (i) bromine chloride or bromine chloride and bromine, with or without conjoint use of chlorine, and (ii) overbased alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid and/or sulfamic acid, alkali metal base, and water, wherein (i) and (ii) are in relative proportions such that there is an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93, and wherein the bromine-based biocide has a pH of greater than 7; or B) (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, at least one alkali metal bromide, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, (ii) a chlorine source, (iii) optionally at least one inorganic base, and (iv) optionally sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid.

6. A process as in claim 2, which process further comprises placing the carcass that was subjected to inside-outside washing in a chill tank into contact with chill water, characterized in that the chill water contains a microbiocidal composition comprising I) one or more surfactants which is one or more amine oxides having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms, and/or one or more betaines having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms; and II) a microbiocidal amount of: (1) one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (2) one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (3) chlorine dioxide; (4) chlorine; (5) hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis; (6) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites; (7) monochloramine; (8) peracetic acid; or (9) a bromine-based biocide formed in water from A) (i) bromine chloride or bromine chloride and bromine, with or without conjoint use of chlorine, and (ii) overbased alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid and/or sulfamic acid, alkali metal base, and water, wherein (i) and (ii) are in relative proportions such that there is an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93, and wherein the bromine-based biocide has a pH of greater than 7; or B) (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, one or more alkali metal bromides, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, (ii) a chlorine source, (iii) optionally at least one inorganic base, and (iv) optionally sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid.

7. A process as in claim 6, which process further comprises contacting parts of poultry resulting from processing of poultry with water containing a microbiocidal composition, characterized in that the microbiocidal composition comprises I) one or more surfactants which is one or more amine oxides having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms, and/or one or more betaines having about eight to about twenty carbon atoms; and II) a microbiocidal amount of: (1) one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (2) one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoins; (3) chlorine dioxide; (4) chlorine; (5) hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis; (6) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites; (7) monochloramine; (8) peracetic acid; or (9) a bromine-based biocide formed in water from A) (i) bromine chloride or bromine chloride and bromine, with or without conjoint use of chlorine, and (ii) overbased alkali metal salt of sulfamic acid and/or sulfamic acid, alkali metal base, and water, wherein (i) and (ii) are in relative proportions such that there is an atom ratio of nitrogen to active bromine greater than 0.93, and wherein the bromine-based biocide has a pH of greater than 7; or B) (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, one or more alkali metal bromides, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, (ii) a chlorine source, (iii) optionally at least one inorganic base, and (iv) optionally sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid.

8. A process as in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is an amine oxide in which two groups of the amine oxide are alkyl groups having one to about four carbon atoms, and/or wherein said surfactant is a betaine in which two groups of the betaine are alkyl groups having one to about four carbon atoms.

9. A process as in claim 8 wherein one of the groups of the amine oxide has about six to about eighteen carbon atoms, and/or wherein one of the groups of the betaine has about six to about eighteen carbon atoms.

10. A process as in claim 8 wherein said surfactant is an amine oxide in which two groups of the amine oxide are alkyl groups having one or two carbon atoms, and/or wherein said surfactant is a betaine in which two groups of the betaine are alkyl groups having one or two carbon atoms.

11. A process as in claim 9 wherein one of the groups of the amine oxide has about twelve to about sixteen carbon atoms, and/or wherein one of the groups of the betaine has about twelve to about sixteen carbon atoms.

12. A process as in claim 1 wherein the surfactant is lauramine oxide, myristamine oxide, a mixture of alk-amidopropyl amine oxides having about sixteen to about eighteen carbon atoms, or cetyl betaine.

13. A process as in claim 1 wherein the microbiocidal composition comprises one or more 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoins, one or more N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoins, or a bromine-based biocide formed in water.

14. A process as in claim 13 wherein said microbiocidal composition provides a bromine residual in the range of about 10 to about 450 ppm (wt/wt) as free bromine.

15. A process as in claim 13 wherein the 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dialkylhydantoin is 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

16. A process as in claim 13 wherein the N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dialkylhydantoin is N,N′-bromochloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin.

17. A process as in claim 1 wherein the microbiocidal composition comprises peracetic acid, and wherein the peracetic acid has a concentration in the chill water in the range of about 1 ppm to about 500 ppm.

18. A process as in claim 1 wherein the microbiocidal composition comprises a bromine-based biocide formed in water from ingredients in A), and wherein: said alkali metal base of (ii) is sodium hydroxide; said biocide has an active bromine content is about 100,000 ppm or more; and/or said pH is about 10 or greater.

19. A process as in claim 1 wherein the microbiocidal composition comprises a bromine-based biocide formed in water from ingredients in B), and wherein the bromine-based biocide is formed from water, (i) one or more bromide sources selected from ammonium bromide, hydrogen bromide, one or more alkali metal bromides, one or more alkaline earth metal bromides, and mixtures of any two or more of the foregoing, and a) (ii) one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites, and (iii) an inorganic base, such that the bromine-based biocide has a pH greater than 7, or b) (ii) a solid chlorinating agent, and (iii) an inorganic base, such that the bromine-based biocide has a pH greater than 7, or c) (ii) a chlorine source, optionally (iii) at least one inorganic base, and (iv) sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid, or d) a combination of any one or more of a) through c).

20. A process as in claim 19 wherein (i) is sodium bromide, and/or wherein (ii) is one or more alkali metal hypochlorites.

21. A process as in claim 19 wherein when the bromine-based biocide is a), sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid is included, (iii) is sodium hydroxide, and/or said pH is about 10 or greater; when the bromine-based biocide is b), sulfamic acid and/or a metal salt of sulfamic acid is included, (ii) is trichloroisocyanurate or sodium dichloroisocyanurate, (iii) is sodium hydroxide, and/or said pH is about 10 or greater; when the bromine-based biocide is c), (iv) is sulfamic acid.

22. A process as in claim 1 wherein the microbiocidal composition comprises chlorine, hypochlorous acid formed by electrolysis, one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites, or monochloramine, and wherein the microbiocidal composition provides a chlorine residual in the range of about 4 to about 200 ppm (wt/wt) as free chlorine.

23. A process as in claim 22 wherein the microbiocidal composition comprises one or more alkali metal hypochlorites and/or one or more alkaline earth metal hypochlorites, and is lithium hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite, and/or calcium hypochlorite.

24. A process as in claim 1 wherein the surfactant has a concentration in the water to be applied to poultry in the range from about its critical micelle concentration to about 10,000 ppm.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0089] A study was conducted in a laboratory-based poultry chill tank system, which was simulated in one-gallon (3.8 L) metal containers (cans). Five bacterially challenged chicken legs were prepared. A culture of Campylobacter jejuni strain (ATCC lot # 58532167) was grown overnight in a biphasic system adapted from Shadowen, R. D., Sciortino, C. V., J. Clin. Microbiol., 1989, 27, 1744-7. In the method herein, a loop-full of fresh Campylobacter colonies were used to streak the entire surface of a Campy-cefex agar plate ([plate dimensions]; Brucella agar, 43 g/L; ferrous sulfate, 0.50 g/L; sodium metabisulfate, 0.20 g/L; pyruvic acid, 0.5 g/L; lysed horse blood cells, 50 ml/L; cycloheximide, 200 μg/L; and cefoperazone, 33 μg/L). Then Mueller Hinton broth (10 mL) was aseptically pipetted over the surface. Two or three Petri plates were prepared in this manner, and incubated overnight at 42° C. in a sealable plastic bag (Ziploc®), and flashed with a gaseous mixture (5% O.sub.2, 10% CO.sub.2 and 85% N.sub.2). The following day, the liquid phase was aspirated, pelleted, washed twice in Butterfields buffer, and titrated to a concentration of 10.sup.8 CFU/mL. One mL of the titrated culture was spot inoculated over each chicken leg, and then each chicken leg was incubated inside a biosafety cabinet for 30 minutes at room temperature.

[0090] Each chicken leg was immersed in a separate control or test container. The containers were prefilled with 2,100 mL of either 200 ppm 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH; control solution) or 200 ppm DBDMH mixed with 0.4 wt % (4000 ppm) surfactant (test solution). The surfactants were lauramine oxide (Ammonyx® LO; Stepan Company), myristamine oxide (Ammonyx® MO; Stepan Company), a mixture of lauramidopropyl amine oxide and myristamidopropyl amine oxide (Ammonyx® LMDO; Stepan Company), and cetyl betaine (Amphosol® CDB; Stepan Company).

[0091] The containers were placed on an orbital shaker set at 200 rpm at 4° C. The total immersion time was 60 minutes. The solution in each container was replaced with fresh solution at a contact time of 25 to 30 minutes. The solution replacement was achieved by pouring out the liquid from the containers and refilling them with the same volume of the appropriate solution. After a total of 60 minutes incubation, the chicken legs were transferred into separate plastic bags (Ziploc®) prefilled with 36 mL of a peptone rinse solution. The chicken legs were rinsed according to the Whole Bird Rinse Method. One mL of the rinsate was removed and serially diluted in peptone buffer, followed by plating onto a Campylobacter specific agar medium for enumeration of colony forming units (CFU). The log reduction of Campylobacter for each treatment group was determined by subtracting the average log CFU remaining on the chicken legs from the average log CFU obtained from the control group. The control group consisted of 3 chicken legs that were sampled right after the bacterial challenge. Results are summarized in Table 1; Run 1 is comparative.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 DBDMH.sup.a Log reduction of Std. Run conc. Surfactant (0.4 wt %) Campylobacter deviation 1  200 ppm.sup.b none 3.07  0.39 2 200 ppm laur/myristamidopropyl 3.63  0.32 amine oxide.sup.c 3 200 ppm myristamine oxide 8.52  4 200 ppm cetyl betaine 8.52  5 200 ppm lauramine oxide 8.68.sup.d 0.00 .sup.aDBDMH = 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. .sup.bComparative. .sup.cA mixture of lauramidopropyl amine oxide and myristamidopropyl amine oxide. .sup.dComplete kill.

EXAMPLE 2

[0092] Experiments as described in Example 1 were performed using peracetic acid as the microbiocide. Results are summarized in Table 2; Runs A and B are comparative.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Peracetic Log reduction of Run acid conc. Surfactant (0.4 wt %) Campylobacter Std. deviation A.sup.1 25 ppm none 2.78  0.26 B.sup.1 100 ppm  none 7.01  2.00 C 25 ppm lauramine oxide 8.57.sup.2 0.00 .sup.1Comparative. .sup.2Complete kill.

[0093] The data in Tables 1 and 2 show that complete Campylobacter eradication from chickens was achieved when 0.4% of the surfactant was applied with 200 ppm of 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, and when 0.4% of the surfactant was applied with 25 ppm of peracetic acid.

EXAMPLE 3

Comparative

[0094] Experiments as described in Example 1 were performed using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin as the microbiocide. Nonionic and anionic surfactants were tested. The surfactants were an alkylpolyglucoside (Glucopon® 425N; BASF Corp.); sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (Aerosol® OT-100; Cytec Industries Inc.); sodium dodecyl sulfate; an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide polyether polyol copolymer (Tergitol® L-64; Dow Chemical Company); and a tri(ethylene oxide) C.sub.12-15 linear alcohol ethoxylate (Biosoft® N25-3; Stepan Company). Results are summarized in Table 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 DBDMH.sup.a Log reduction of Std. Run conc. Surfactant (0.4 wt %) Campylobacter deviation i 200 ppm alkylpolyglucoside 1.94 0.19 ii 200 ppm sodium dioctyl 1.94 0.19 sulfosuccinate iii 200 ppm sodium dodecyl sulfate 2.05 0.15 iv 200 ppm EO/PO polyether 2.42 0.16 polyol copolymer.sup.b v 200 ppm C.sub.12-15 linear alcohol 2.49 0.37 ethoxylate.sup.c .sup.aDBDMH = 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin. .sup.bAn ethylene oxide/propylene oxide polyether polyol copolymer. .sup.cA tri(ethylene oxide) C.sub.12-15 linear alcohol ethoxylate.

[0095] The data in Table 3 shows that some surfactants appear to cause 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin to be less effective than using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin by itself.

[0096] Components referred to by chemical name or formula anywhere in the specification or claims hereof, whether referred to in the singular or plural, are identified as they exist prior to coming into contact with another substance referred to by chemical name or chemical type (e.g., another component, a solvent, or etc.). It matters not what chemical changes, transformations and/or reactions, if any, take place in the resulting mixture or solution as such changes, transformations, and/or reactions are the natural result of bringing the specified components together under the conditions called for pursuant to this disclosure. Thus the components are identified as ingredients to be brought together in connection with performing a desired operation or in forming a desired composition. Also, even though the claims hereinafter may refer to substances, components and/or ingredients in the present tense (“comprises”, “is”, etc.), the reference is to the substance, component or ingredient as it existed at the time just before it was first contacted, blended or mixed with one or more other substances, components and/or ingredients in accordance with the present disclosure. The fact that a substance, component or ingredient may have lost its original identity through a chemical reaction or transformation during the course of contacting, blending or mixing operations, if conducted in accordance with this disclosure and with ordinary skill of a chemist, is thus of no practical concern.

[0097] The invention may comprise, consist, or consist essentially of the materials and/or procedures recited herein.

[0098] As used herein, the term “about” modifying the quantity of an ingredient in the compositions of the invention or employed in the methods of the invention refers to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring and liquid handling procedures used for making concentrates or use solutions in the real world; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients employed to make the compositions or carry out the methods; and the like. The term about also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. Whether or not modified by the term “about”, the claims include equivalents to the quantities.

[0099] Except as may be expressly otherwise indicated, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the description or a claim to a single element to which the article refers. Rather, the article “a” or “an” if and as used herein is intended to cover one or more such elements, unless the text expressly indicates otherwise.

[0100] This invention is susceptible to considerable variation in its practice. Therefore the foregoing description is not intended to limit, and should not be construed as limiting, the invention to the particular exemplifications presented hereinabove.