Accumulation of microbial hazards and assessment of food hygiene associated with broiler chicken processing at open air food markets in Maputo, Mozambique

The burden of foodborne disease due to the consumption of animal-sourced foods is substantial in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Open air markets, while providing fresh and affordable foods, often have unhygienic practices that may contribute to contamination during the slaughter and processing of chicken meat. This study examines whether and how the common practice of rinse water (stored water used for rinsing broiler carcasses during processing) reuse leads to accumulation of pathogens, with potential cross contamination of chicken meat. To assess the accumulation of Campylobacter jejuni/coli, Salmonella spp., and the indicator of fecal contamination, Escherichia coli, in rinse water used during the slaughtering process at open air food markets in Maputo, Mozambique. We conducted a time-series study at three open air food markets. In a first experiment, we collected paired rinse water (N = 70), water used for chicken processing, and broiler chicken carcass (N = 60) samples from 10 vendors at 75-min intervals starting prior to any processing activity. In a second experiment, we collected 100, 50 mL rinse water samples, immediately before and after processing, from 10 vendors. Chicken processing activity and associated hygiene practices were captured through direct observation. Vendors processed 24 chickens per day, on average. In the first experiment, C. jejuni/coli and E. coli were detected in 30 % and 80 % of rinse water samples, respectively, prior to processing (baseline), and no Salmonella was detected. After the first carcass rinse, C. jejuni/coli and E. coli were detected in 100 % of samples, and Salmonella spp. was detected in 42 % of rinse water samples and 48 % of carcass samples. C. jejuni/coli showed an average 0.1 log