This study has provided information on the numbers and
prevalence of non-O157 STEC, F-RNA coliphage, BEC and RV on
commercial vacuum packaged beef. As RV and viable F-RNA coliphages
were detected on beef subprimals and enteric viruses are
extremely stable at low temperatures on rawmeat (Brandsma et al.,
2012), nothing is known about the incoming levels of viruses on
carcasses so it will be important to investigate the fate of enteric
viruses and indicator viruses at various steps of meat processing
operations as current strategies to reduce bacterial pathogens on
meat may not be fully effective against viruses.
Acknowledgments