Comparison of Interior Coatings to Control Surface Microbiological Contamination

Abstract

Coating materials for poultry processing plant walls and ceilings were compared as a potential source of microbial contamination. The surface contamination of acrylic latex-coated concrete used in conjunction with a chemical sanitizer were compared in a simulated poultry processing plant environment with uncoated and painted concrete surfaces in this study. When all coating materials were inoculated and sanitized daily to simulate commercial utilization, aerobic plate counts (APC) from acrylic latex coating surfaces were significantly (P < .05) lower than those from either uncoated or painted concrete surfaces. Regardless of inoculation sources, a chemical sanitizer significantly (P < .05) decreased the APC from uncoated and painted concrete surfaces. However, APC from acrylic latex coating surfaces were not significantly different between water and chemical sanitizer treatments because the contamination levels before sanitizing were already low.

This data indicates that surface contamination on concrete was more effectively reduced by coating with acrylic latex than by coating with normal paints. And, although the chemical sanitizer treatment significantly decreased the contamination levels from uncoated and painted concrete surfaces, this procedure did not affect the contamination level of acrylic latex coating.