Method and composition for washing poultry during processing

18 The method of claim 1, further comprising exposing the poultry to activated light.

The method of claim 18, wherein the activated light comprises ultraviolet light, infrared light, visible light, or a combination thereof.

A method of reducing a microbial population on poultry during processing comprising:

• contacting the poultry during processing with a gaseous or densified fluid peroxycarboxylic acid antimicrobial composition in an amount and time sufficient to reduce the microbial population.

A method of recycling water previously applied to poultry, the method comprising:

• recovering a mixed peroxycarboxylic acid antimicrobial composition previously applied to poultry;
• and
• adding to the recovered composition a sufficient amount of a mixture of peroxycarboxylic acids to yield a recycled mixed peroxycarboxylic acid antimicrobial composition.

An antimicrobial concentrate composition comprising:

• a combination of peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid effective for reducing the microbial burden on a surface of poultry;
• the combination comprising about 30 to about 60 weight-% acetic acid, about 1 to about 15 weight-% octanoic acid, about 2 to about 12 weight-% hydrogen peroxide, about 6 to about 16 weight-% peroxyacetic acid, and about 0.1 to about 5 weight-% peroxyoctanoic acid, and about 0.1 to about 2 weight-% chelating agent.

An antimicrobial use composition comprising:

• a combination of peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid effective for reducing the microbial burden on a surface of poultry;
• the combination comprising about 5 to about 1000 ppm acetic acid, about 0.5 to about 100 ppm octanoic acid, about 1 to about 200 ppm hydrogen peroxide, about 2 to about 300 ppm peroxyacetic acid, and about 0.1 to about 20 ppm peroxyoctanoic acid, and about 3 to about 30 ppm chelating agent.

An antimicrobial concentrate composition comprising:

• a combination of peroxyacetic acid and peroxyoctanoic acid effective for reducing the microbial burden on a surface of poultry;
• the combination comprising an equilibrium mixture resulting from a composition of about 40 to about 70 weight-% acetic acid, about 2 to about 20 weight-% octanoic acid, and about 5 to about 15 weight-% hydrogen peroxide, and about 0.3 to about 1 weight-% chelating agent.

An antimicrobial concentrate composition comprising:

• a combination of acetic acid, octanoic acid, and hydrogen peroxide effective for producing an equilibrium mixture that reduces the microbial burden on a surface of poultry;
• the combination comprising about 40 to about 70 weight-% acetic acid, about 2 to about 20 weight-% octanoic acid, and about 5 to about 15 weight-% hydrogen peroxide, and about 0.3 to about 1 weight-% chelating agent.