Rapid method for detection and enumeration of fecal coliforms in fresh chicken.

A rapid method for enumerating fecal coliforms in foods was developed employing an agar pour-plate medium. After 7 h of incubation at 41.5 +/- 0.05 C, this medium effectively allows the growth of fecal coliforms only. This rapid method was compared with the Association of Official Analytical Chemists multiple-tube dilution method for Escherichia coli, by using 21 samples of fresh, cut-up chicken and a surface rinsing procedure for sample preparation. Verification of picked colonies was carried out in EC broth using parallel incubation temperatures of 45.5 and 44.5 +/- 0.05 C. Verifications for these temperatures averaged 79 and 98%, respectively. All positively verified isolates were E. coli types I and II, as were the negatives. Geometric means for the verified 7-h plate count were within 12% of the standard means for both EC broth incubation temperatures.