4.1.3. Effect of organic acids on mesophilic APC population Antimicrobial treatment of inoculated beef trimming with organic acids such as caprylic and fumaric acids reduced (P > 0.05)2.60 and 2.16-log10 CFU/g of APC (Fig. 3) as compared to the control (IN þ W). Un-inoculated beef trim without treatment with antimicrobials showed 2.63 log10 CFU/g of background APC populations. Treatment of inoculated beef trimming with other organic acids (malic, pyruvic, caprioic, and capric acids) including peroxyacetic acid reduced (P > 0.05) ~ 0.2 log10 CFU/g of APC populations as compared with controls. Among organic acids, CA and GA exhibited least reduction (0.1 log10 CFU/g) of APC populations.