Salmonella and campylobacter contamination of broiler chicken carcasses and scald tank water: the influence of water pH

Scalding at 50 degrees +/- 0.5 degrees C, in water maintained at pH 9.0 +/- 0.2 by the addition of sodium hydroxide, had no effect on the incidence of salmonella or campylobacter contamination of chicken carcasses. There were significant reductions, however, in the numbers of these organisms in the water itself.