Efficacy of Biocides in Eliminating Biofilms of Enterobacteriaceae , Lactic Acid Bacteria, and Spoilage Microorganisms Isolated from Meat Fabrication Equipment

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two cleaners (Tergazyme and PowerFoam Plus) and two sanitizers (Decon 7 and BioDestroy) against biofilms formed by a variety of bacterial species obtained from meat processing plants ( n = 44). Biofilms were developed on polystyrene pegs at alternating temperatures of 8°C for 16 h, followed by 15°C for 8 h, over a duration of 6 days. Bacteria within biofilms were enumerated by plating, and biomass was quantified by crystal violet staining and measuring absorbance ( A ₅₇₀ ). Thirty of the 44 meat plant bacterial strains formed measurable biofilms, of which 43% ( n = 19) were weak biofilm formers, 9% ( n = 4) were moderate biofilm formers, and 16% ( n = 7) were strong biofilm formers. Of the two sanitizers, Decon 7 was the most effective at biofilm eradication (100%). The effectiveness of BioDestroy for biofilm removal was improved by a pretreatment step of PowerFoam Plus and Tergazyme. These findings show that pretreatment with cleaning products is important for improving the effectiveness of some sanitizers, and soaking equipment with cleaners prior to application of sanitizers may improve biofilm removal in meat processing environments.