COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING THE PATHOGEN CONTENT OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS

• US 20080026098A1
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHR Hansen Holding A/S
• Original Assignee: Nutrition Physiology Corporation
• Inventors: Garner, Bryan, Ware, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,071,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/2
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/22 Microorganisms; Enzymes; Antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/18 of live microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/30 for swines
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/75 for poultry
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/45 Addition of, or treatment with, microorganisms A23L13/74 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/035 containing oxygen as heteroatom gums A23L29/25; sugar or sugar alcohols A23L29/30
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/065 Microorganisms addition of bacteria for nutritional purposes A23L33/135
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/28 using microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2400/113 Acidophilus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/822 using bacteria or actinomycetales
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/854 Lactobacillus acidophilus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/856 Lactobacillus casei
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/857 Lactobacillus plantarum

Abstract

Compositions and methods useful for reducing or eliminating the presence of pathogens in meat and meat products are disclosed. Administration of one or more lactic acid producing microorganisms to a live animal, to a carcass, to meat, to meat products, or in animal feed results in significant reductions in the amount of pathogens potentially harmful to humans when ingested. Synergistic effects can be achieved with the administration of multiple strains of microorganisms.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the pathogen content of meat or a meat product,

the method comprising:

selecting an animal feedstock;

contacting the animal feedstock with at least one lactic acid producing microorganism to produce a treated feedstock;

providing the treated feedstock to an animal;

obtaining the animal carcass from the animal; and

processing the animal carcass to produce meat or a meat product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen content of the meat or meat product is less than the pathogen content of meat or meat product obtained from an animal carcass obtained from an animal that had been provided untreated animal feedstock.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen is an E. coli pathogen, a Staphylococcus pathogen, or a Salmonella pathogen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pathogen is Salmonella typhirium, Staphylococcus aureus, or E. coli O157:

H7.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is cattle, a pig, a chicken, a turkey, a lamb, a deer, a buffalo, an alligator, or a snake.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the lactic acid producing microorganism comprises a Bacillus microorganism, a Bifidobacterium microorganism, a Lactobacillus microorganism, a Pediococcus microorganism, or a Streptococcus microorganism.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lactic acid producing microorganism comprises a Lactobacillus microorganism.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the lactic acid producing microorganism comprises a Lactobacillus acidophilus microorganism.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the lactic acid producing microorganism comprises a Lactobacillus acidophilus microorganism selected from the group consisting of M35, LA45, LA51, L411, NPC 747, NPC 750, D3, and L7.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting step comprises contacting the animal feedstock with two or more lactic acid producing microorganisms.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the lactic acid producing microorganism is present in the treated feedstock at a concentration of about 10³ cfu/gram feed to about 10¹⁰ cfu/gram feed.

12. A method for reducing the pathogen content of meat or a meat product, the method comprising:

selecting an animal;

administering at least one lactic acid producing microorganism to the animal to obtain a treated animal;

obtaining the animal carcass from the treated animal; and

processing the animal carcass to produce meat or a meat product.