A method for reducing the incidence of E. coli and Salmonella in slaughtered beef or other meat during processing or post-processing by treating the meat with an effective antimicrobial solution comprising lactic acid and a water soluble anionic or zwitterionic surfactant at a pH of about 3.2 or less. Mixtures of lactic acid with citric acid and a surfactant may also be employed. Antimicrobial solutions of lactic acid and surfactant may be used in other food processing applications.