Microbiological quality of Australian beef and sheepmeat Results of the industry’s third national abattoir study

Summary

The third national baseline microbiological survey of Australian beef and sheepmeat quality was conducted in 2004.

Samples of chilled beef carcases and frozen boneless beef were collected from processors accounting for approximately 75 per cent of Australia’s throughput.

Samples of chilled sheep carcases and frozen boneless sheepmeat were collected from processors accounting for approximately 78per cent of Australia’s throughput.

Over 1,000 samples of each type of beef product, over 1,000 sheep carcases and over 500 frozen boneless sheepmeat products were tested.

There has been a significant improvement in microbiological quality in the Australian industry. This is demonstrated by improved results in this survey over the previous surveys conducted in 1993-94 and 1998.

When compared to the microbiological standards and guidelines applied in other countries and by purchasers of Australian product, the quality of the product tested in this baseline survey exceeded requirements.

When compared to data available on the performance of meat processors in other countries the results compared very favourably.

This document outlines the survey methodology and findings.