Table 1. Comparison of the microbiological limits for carcasses and meat in different countries.
| Country | Products | Aerobic plate count | E. coli | Institute | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea | Carcasses (cattle, sheep) | ≤1.0 × 105 CFU/cm2 | ≤102 CFU/cm2 | Ministry of Food and Drug Safety 2014-135 | Guideline |
| Carcasses (pigs) | ≤104 CFU/cm2 | ||||
| Carcasses (chicken, duck) | ≤103 CFU/cm2 | ||||
| Meat (cattle, sheep) | ≤1.0 × 107 CFU/g | ≤103 CFU/g | |||
| Meat (pigs, chicken, duck) | ≤104 CFU/g | ||||
| USA | Carcasses (steers, heifers, cows, bulls) | - | ≤102 CFU/cm2 | Food Safety and Inspection Service, Electronic code of federal regulations | Standard |
| Carcasses (broiler) | - | ≤103 CFU/cm2 | |||
| Carcasses (swine) | - | ≤104 CFU/cm2 | |||
| Japan | Meat | ≤5.0 × 106 CFU/g | Negative | FCOOP | Self -standard |
| Poultry meat | ≤5.0 × 106 CFU/g | - | |||
| Raw meat | ≤5.0 × 105 CFU/g | Negative | Kinkicoop | Self-standard | |
| Meat | ≤5.0 × 106 CFU/g | Negative | |||
| Meat | ≤3.0 × 106 CFU/g | Negative | Kobecoop | Self -standard | |
| Raw meat | ≤3.0 × 106 CFU/g | - | UCOOP | Self- standard | |
| Meat | ≤1.0 × 107 CFU/g | - | |||
| Australia | Meat | ≤106 CFU/cm2 or g | ≤103 CFU/cm2 or g | Meat Standards Committee AS 4696:2007 | Guideline |
| European Union | Carcasses (cattle, sheep, horses) | ≤5.0 Log CFU/cm2 | ≤2.5 Log CFU/cm2 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 | Standard |
| Carcasses (pigs) | ≤3.0 Log CFU/cm2 | ||||
| Meat (MSM)1) | ≤5.0 × 106 CFU/g | ≤500 CFU/g | |||
| ICMSF2) | Meat | ≤1.0 × 107 CFU/cm2 or g | - | International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods | Guideline |
| FAO3) | Meat | ≤105 CFU/cm2 | ≤103 CFU/cm2 | United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization | Guideline |
1)Mechanically separated meat.
2)International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods.
3)Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.