INVESTIGATION on the PRESENCE of SPOILAGE BACTERIA Clostridium estertheticum in VACUUM-PACKED BEEF by PCR

One of the psychrophilic Clostridia , Clostridium estertheticum has been recognized as causative agents of "blown pack" spoilage of vacuum-packed chilled (0-4°C) meats indicative of odor and vacuum pack distension. Therefore, this stuy was planned to investigate the presence of potential spoilage bacteria, Clostridium estertheticum in vacuum-paked beef. For this, DNA samples from 70 vacuum-packed beef from Istanbul, Turkey were analysed for the presence of Clostridium estertheticum DNA by PCR. No targeted Clostridium estertheticum DNA was found in the samples. In conclusion, although no positivity for Clostridium estertheticum found in this study, it should be monitored in meat sectory whether this bacteria causes spoilage in vacuum-packed beef in Turkey or not. In this study, presence of Clostridium estertheticum was investigated by PCR for the first time in Turkey and the results will aid scientific infomation and background to meat sector).