Construction, management and cleanliness of red meat abattoir lairages in the UK

Abstract

A survey of a large number of UK abattoirs was conducted via a questionnaire designed to obtain information on (i) throughput and species slaughtered; (ii) construction materials used; (iii) use and type of bedding and (iv) details of cleaning/sanitation regimes. A representative group of abattoirs were selected on the basis of the responses to the questionnaire, and the lairage at these plants investigated through enumeration of Escherichia coli remaining after routine cleansing operations. The aim of this study was to enable identification of “common lairage practices” and to assess the general status of the lairage hygiene and effectiveness of lairage cleaning in commercial UK abattoirs. The study shows that microbial contamination often remains in UK lairage holding pens after routine cleaning operations. It would appear that there are significant differences in the effectiveness of lairage cleaning programmes at commercial abattoirs, and that the stun-box-roll-out areas are often cleaned to a better standard than the holding areas. As a result of persistence of microbial contamination in the lairage, there is a possible risk of foodborne pathogens persisting in the environment and potentially contaminating animals and carcasses processed on subsequent days.