The present study was undertaken to determine the level of microbiological surface contamination on 24 h-chilled beef carcasses slaughtered at a local slaughterhouse in Elazığ. The slaughterhouse was visited once a week and 7 to 8 samples were taken by excision method from randomly selected carcasses. Samples were collected for 6 consecutive weeks resulting in a total of 44 surface samples. Each sample was a composite of 100 cm² excised-area by a sterile template (10cm x10cm) from each of rump, flank and brisket areas of the carcasses. Samples were analyzed for numbers of total aerobic mesophile bacteria (TPC) and E. coli type I, and for presence of Salmonella. Results showed that the average number of TPC from 44-analyzed samples was 4.10 log₁₀ cfu/cm². The average TPC of weekly-collected samples varied from 3.70 to 4.90 log₁₀ cfu/cm². The TPC were found ≥ 4.0 log₁₀ cfu/cm² in 45.4% of the total samples. E. coli type I was present in 82% of all 44 samples analyzed. The average number of E. coli type I from these samples was found as 11.6 MPN/cm2. The average of weekly-collected samples varied from 0.94 to 3.10 MPN/cm². Level of contamination with E. coli type I was between 1.0 and 1000 MPN/cm² in 43.3% of the samples. No E. coli type I was detected (< 0.33 MPN/cm²) from 18% of the samples. No Salmonella was isolated from any of the 44 samples.

Results of the present study indicate that fecal contamination of the chilled beef carcasses is common, microbiological cleanliness is poor within the slaughterhouse where this study was conducted and these carcasses may present a health risk to consumers unless hygienic measures related to slaughtering process are improved.