The present invention is directed to compositions, methods, and systems for reducing microbial contamination in meat processing. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, disinfection composition and/or recycled disinfection composition comprising an acid, a buffer, and optionally an antimicrobial metal is applying to a carcass during at least one processing step of sacrificing, scalding, feather/hair/hide removal, eviscerating, and washing. Other aspects of the invention provide a carcass processing system comprising processing stations intermittently fluidly connected via a buffered acidic disinfection composition.
