Improvements in the microbiological quality of food samples from a hospital cook-chill system since the introduction of HACCP

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Shanaghy ◽  
F. Murphy ◽  
Kay Kennedy
1995 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Powell ◽  
R. W. Attwell

SUMMARYThe relationship between visual inspection ratings given to ten food retail premises and the microbiological quality of food samples was examined. Viable counts of bacteria and of Staphylococcus aureus were determined for cooked meat samples from each of the premises. There was no correlation between potential risk of foodborne infection, as assessed by total inspection rating, and bacteriological counts in food (P < 0·05). Neither was there a consistent relationship between scores given to any component of the total rating and the bacteriological quality of food.The effectiveness of the current UK inspection scheme in assessing risk of foodborne infection is questioned. Inclusion of appropriately weighted criteria such as food temperature abuse is suggested to improve the scheme.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-296
Author(s):  
L. Zbadi ◽  
A. El Ouali Lalami ◽  
A. Baroudi ◽  
Z. Marsou ◽  
K. Fikri Benbrahim

The food safety has become a major issue in hospitals, since patients are especially vulnerable to foodborne illness considered as nosocomial infection.Aims: To assess health hazards in food at a hospital in Fez city (Morocco).Material and Results: Hygienic quality of food samples (n = 81: meals (40%), plants and vegetables (35%); meat / meat products (17%)) and contact surfaces (n = 80: local (32,5;%), equipment (50%) and staff’s hands (17,5%)) was evaluated during 2011, and involved germs have been researched using standard methods. Results interpreted according to the Moroccan and French standards showed that the percentage of food’s non-compliance was 12%, with 32% for plants / vegetables and 7% for meat / meat products.The criminalization of fecal coliform was the important (91%) compared with Staphylococcus aureus (9%). Salmonella sp., Listeria monocytogenes, anaerobic sulphito-reducers, yeasts and molds were not implicated.Contact surfaces analysis showed that 40% of equipment, 38% of local and 29 % of the staff’s hands were not clean. The causative organisms were fecal coliforms (60%) and S. aureus (40 %).Conclusion: Contact surfaces may affect the hygienic quality of food served in the hospital. That could make the warning signal in hospitals for the establishment of a global quality policy to ensure food safety and to prevent healthcare associated infections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39
Author(s):  
Oluwadara Oluwaseun Alegbeleye ◽  
Wasiu Akinloye Oyebisi Afolabi ◽  
Beatrice Oluwatoyin Opeolu ◽  
Amin Mousavi Khaneghah

Background: Bacterial counts in ready-to-eat foods are a key factor in assessing the microbiological quality and safety of food. Periodic assessment of the microbiological quality of food is necessary to develop a robust database and help to ensure food safety. </P><P> Methods: The bacterial contamination of a total of 336 bread samples collected from two bakeries and 10 vendors in Ojoo Area of Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria (December 2014 -June 2015) was evaluated. The microbiological quality of the bread loaves was investigated using standard microbiological methods (morphological, phenotypic and molecular characterization). </P><P> Results: The results showed that the number of contaminated samples among the vended bread samples was higher than the bakery bread samples and can be summarized as Bacillus megaterium (4.30%), Staphylococcus arlettae (0.005%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (2.78%), Citrobacter freundii (2.40%), Bacillus flexus (1.64%), Bacillus species (49.59%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.12%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.92%), Pseudomonas species (0.045%), Escherichia coli (30.44%) Klebsiella sp. (0.040%) and Aeromonas hydrophila (3.72%). </P><P> Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the bread samples which become contaminated after transport and handling can be considered a potential hazard to human health in the area. More stringent adherence to food safety regulations should be encouraged and enforced by the appropriate authorities. The findings of this study may be adopted to improve the hygienic conditions of bread distribution chain in the area as well as in other regions of the World.


2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 342-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
GERVAS Y. MURINDAMOMBE ◽  
ERNEST K. COLLISON ◽  
SISAI F. MPUCHANE ◽  
BERHANU A. GASHE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiological safety and quality of street foods sold in Gaborone, Botswana. A total of 148 point-of-sale composite street food samples were bought and analyzed between June 2001 and May 2002. The analysis focused on the level of contamination of various street foods with Bacillus cereus. The B. cereus (vegetative and spores), total spore, and total viable counts were determined on all the samples. Also B. cereus isolates from 444 individual point-of-sale food samples were characterized with respect to their biochemical profiles and enterotoxigenic properties. The B. cereus contamination rate for point-of-sale foods was 65%. The B. cereus counts ranged from not detectable to levels as high as 9.1 log CFU/g. Despite the high rate of contamination of some samples, generally, most samples had B. cereus counts of less than 4 log CFU/g; hence, they were of acceptable microbiological quality. Bacillus diarrheal enterotoxin was detected from 52 isolates from individual portions of meals using the B. cereus enterotoxin reversed passive latex agglutination kit. Results of the assay revealed that 59.6% of the B. cereus isolates were enterotoxigenic. Most of the enterotoxigenic isolates were obtained from vegetable samples.


2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. MELDRUM ◽  
P. T. MANNION ◽  
J. GARSIDE ◽  

A survey of the general microbiological quality of ready-to-eat food served in schools was undertaken across Wales, United Kingdom. Of the 2,351 samples taken, four were identified as containing unsatisfactory counts of Escherichia coli, four contained unsatisfactory counts of Staphylococcus aureus, and one contained an unacceptable count of Bacillus cereus when compared with guidelines for the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat food published by the United Kingdom Public Health Laboratory Service in 2000. No samples contained detectable levels of Salmonella, Listeria species, or Clostridium perfringens. When compared with data on the general microbiological quality of food available in Wales, the food sampled from schools was of relatively better microbiological quality.


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