The incidence and significance of clostridia isolated from ready-to-eat meats and rendered products.

Approximately 26% of rendered and 10% of ready-to-eat products contained species of the genus Clostridium. Eleven species of clostridia were isolated from a total of 524 products tested. Some products harboured more than one species.C. sporogenes, one of the most heat resistant organisms, was the most common type isolated.C. sordellii produced a transient illness in guinea pigs while all other species were innocuous.