Highlights
► Beef surfaces inoculated with Escherichia coli were sprayed with 5% lactic acid. ► With large inocula, reductions were greater for E. coli on membrane than on fat or cut muscle surfaces. ► With small inocula, reduction on membrane and fat surfaces were similar and greater than reductions on cut muscle surfaces. ► With very small inocula, E. coli were recovered from all treated surfaces by enrichment. ► 5% Lactic acid will not eliminate E. coli from beef trimmings.