scholarly journals Microbiological Quality of Foodstuffs Sold on Expiry Date at Retail in Portugal: A Preliminary Study

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 919
Author(s):  
Rita Maio ◽  
Juan García-Díez ◽  
Cristina Saraiva
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Expiry Date

Currently, food waste represents an important issue due to its negative economic, social and environmental impact. To reduce the food waste levels, some retailers’ brands implement discounting based on the proximity to expiry. Since this practice may involve potential food poisoning, a total of 94 food products from animal origin, purchased in two supermarkets in North Portugal on the expiry date, were analyzed for selected foodborne and spoilage microorganisms. Moreover, the samples were classified as satisfactory and not satisfactory according to their microbiological quality. The results showed that none of the samples presented counts for Salmonella spp., S. aureus, B. cereus. L. monocytogenes was detected in one sample over the limit of 2 log cfu/g as defined by Regulation 2073/2005. The evaluation of food hygiene and spoilage indicators showed that the processed foods displayed lower counts than raw products (beef, pork, chicken and fish). Regarding Enterobacteriaceae, raw products presented on average over 2 log cfu/g than processed foods, with the exception of beef samples that accounted over 3 log cfu/g more than processed foods. In addition, E. coli was mainly detected in fresh meat of which chicken and pork displayed the highest counts. Regarding the qualitative classification, 51.06% of the samples were not satisfactory for the total mesophilic counts, while 62.76% and 58.51% displayed positive results for Enterobacteriaceae and molds and yeasts (M&Y) criteria, respectively. In all, 70.21% of the samples analyzed at the expiry date failed, at least, in one microbiological criterion. The results indicate that the foods available at the end of the shelf life in supermarkets do not represent a risk for food poisoning due to the absence of foodborne pathogens. Since the microbiological indicators of storage/handling of raw products were mainly unsatisfactory, this indicates that the sale of these perishable foods at the end of the shelf life may not be recommended. On the other hand, processed products subjected to food conservation procedures (i.e., thermal processing) could be sold at the end of their shelf life or donated beyond the best-before date, due to its physical, chemical and microbiological stability. However, evidences of foodborne outbreaks associated to this kind of foodstuffs indicated the need of a proper risk assessment. Moreover, it is important to remark that other factors such as small sample size, the absence of the evaluation of the handling, and storage conditions along the food chain or organoleptic alterations must be assessed in further studies.

scholarly journals Microbiological Quality of Ready-to-Eat Leafy Green Salads during Shelf-Life and Home-Refrigeration

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1421
Author(s):  
Alyexandra Arienzo ◽  
Lorenza Murgia ◽  
Ilaria Fraudentali ◽  
Valentina Gallo ◽  
Riccardo Angelini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Expiry Date ◽  
Mesophilic Bacteria ◽  
Biological Survey

The market of ready-to-eat leafy green salads is experiencing a noticeable growth in Europe. Since they are intended to be consumed without additional treatments, these ready-to-eat products are associated with a high microbiological risk. The aim of this work was to evaluate the microbiological quality and safety of ready-to-eat leafy green salads sold in widespread supermarket chains in Lazio, Italy, on the packaging date during shelf-life and during home-refrigeration. The study also aimed to determine the differences between low-, medium-, and high-cost products. Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were chosen as safety indicators as specified by European regulations while total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Escherichia coli were chosen as quality indicators as suggested by national guidelines. Analyses were performed following the ISO standards and in parallel for the evaluation of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, with an alternative colorimetric system, the Micro Biological Survey method, in order to propose a simple, affordable and accurate alternative for testing the microbiological quality of products, especially suitable for small and medium enterprises and on-site analyses. The study revealed high, unsatisfactory, total bacterial loads in all analyzed samples on the packaging date and expiry date and a very high prevalence of Salmonella spp. (67%) regardless of the selected varieties and cost categories; L. monocytogenes was not recovered aligning with the results obtained in other studies.

scholarly journals Resistance of Salmonella spp. isolated from poultry meat to antimicrobial drugs

2021 ◽  
Vol 854 (1) ◽  
pp. 012042
Author(s):  
V Kalaba ◽  
T Ilic ◽  
B Golic ◽  
D Kalaba ◽  
Z Sladojevic
Keyword(s):  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Poultry Meat ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Multi Drug Resistance ◽  
Growth Promoters ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Antimicrobial Drugs ◽  
Disk Diffusion Method ◽  
Transfer Resistance

Abstract Uncontrolled use of antimicrobials in the prophylaxis and treatment of human and animal diseases leads to the appearance of residues in the environment and food. The use of antimicrobials as growth promoters in breeding affirms the importance of their residual finding in foods of animal origin. Bacteria of the genus Salmonella are one of the most common causes of food poisoning. All species of this genus are pathogenic to humans and cause various diseases known as salmonellosis. Humans can become infected through the faecal-oral route by consuming contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an animal. Salmonella that are resistant to antimicrobial drugs can transfer resistance genes to other microorganisms. In this work, the resistance of 10 Salmonella isolates from poultry meat to 8 different antimicrobial substances was examined by the disk diffusion method. All Salmonella isolates were sensitive to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol. All isolates were resistant to amoxicillin and significant percentages were resistant to other antimicrobial drugs. Also, multi-drug resistance of Salmonella isolates was found. The best prevention of salmonellosis in humans is constant and comprehensive control of this hazard in food products during production, processing, storage, and sale.

Microbiological Condition of Ground Meat Retailed in Monterrey, Mexico

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1249-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
NORMA HEREDIA ◽  
SANTOS GARCÍA ◽  
GUADALUPE ROJAS ◽  
LUCÍA SALAZAR
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Ground Meat ◽  
Fusarium Spp ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Shigella Spp ◽  
Low Levels

Eighty-eight samples of ground meat were randomly collected from retail stores in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico, and were analyzed for microbial contamination. Methods were those recommended by the Mexican regulation and/or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Over 75% of the samples contained 105 total mesophilic microorganisms per g, and over 40% had 106 total coliforms per g. Fecal coliforms were present in most samples. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 2.3% of the samples, Salmonella spp. in 11.4%, Listeria spp. in 62%, and L. monocytogenes in 16%. Escherichia coli was detected in 76% of samples, but none was serotype O157:H7. Shigella spp. was not found in any sample. Fusarium spp. and Mucor spp. were detected in 3.4% of the samples, and low levels of yeast in 93%. The microbiological quality of the ground meat analyzed was unsatisfactory, and the product could be an important cause of food poisoning.

scholarly journals Composition, Digestibility, and Microbiological Quality of the Animal-Origin Meal

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 424
Author(s):  
Julia Marixara Sousa da Silva ◽  
Christiane Silva Souza ◽  
Alison Batista Vieira Silva Gouveia ◽  
Weslane Justina da Silva ◽  
Lorrayne Moraes de Paulo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Grain Size Analysis ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
Salmonella Spp

There is currently a growing interest of animal nutritionists and farmers in the use of by-products and/or agro-industrial residues in feeds. The purpose is to reduce production costs, since feed represents nearly 70% of the cost of production, as well as to allocate waste properly, minimizing potential environmental impacts. The characteristics of the residues used and their physical and/ or chemical limitations should be known, providing nutritionist with the correct information for the best choice and use of these ingredients for animal nutrition. This study aims to characterize the centesimal and energetic composition, digestibility, and microbiological quality of animal-origin meals in non-ruminant feeds. Samples of animal-origin meals – AOM (n=210), hydrolyzed feather meals (n=70), chicken offal meal (n=70), and pig offal meal (n=70) were evaluated. The following variables were determined: moisture, crude protein, amino acids, ethereal extract, ash content, FAO grain size analysis, and protein digestibility. Peroxide and acidity levels were determined to evaluate the oxidative process. The microbiological quality of AOM evaluated by the presence/absence of Salmonella spp.; the apparent metabolizable energy was verified by the indirect method using prediction equations. The amounts of proteins, minerals, amino acids, and energy differed from those reported in the literature. These results were possibly due to the different operational processes performed in each one of the experiments, as well as the proportions of constituents in the compared raw materials compared. Moreover, we observed that the AOM is within the Brazilian hygienic-sanitary standards.

scholarly journals Microbiological Quality and Safety of pre-cut fruit retailed in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M B Odebisi-Omokanye
Keyword(s):  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Microbiological Characteristics ◽  
Fruit Samples ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count

The microbiological quality of pre-cut fruits retailed in three local markets in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria was assessed. Pre-cut fruit samples comprising watermelon, pineapple and pawpaw were obtained from vendors at different retail outlets in the markets and the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics were examined. Mean total aerobic plate count ranged from 1.20 x 104 to 2.0 x 104cfu/g while fungal count ranged from 0.5 x 102 to1.6 x 102 cfu/g. Eight bacterial and six fungal species were isolated: Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Campylobacter jejuni, Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor mucedo, Rhizopus stolonifer , Aspergillus fumigatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The physicochemical parameters studies varies as follows: pH ranged from 3.5 to 4.1, moisture content 60.20 to 90.73%, titratable acidity 0.42 to 0.80g/100ml, ash 0.50 to 1.11% and total sugar 2.01 to 2.53g/100ml. The findings from this study showed that the fruits contained microorganisms that are potentially pathogenic. Under favourable conditions, they may multiply and thus render the fruits unsafe for consumption as they could become means of food poisoning.

scholarly journals A Pilot Survey on Hygienic–Sanitary Characteristics of Ready-To-Eat Sauces and Pesto

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 5005
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Caggiano ◽  
Giusy Diella ◽  
Paolo Trerotoli ◽  
Marco Lopuzzo ◽  
Francesco Triggiano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Expiry Date ◽  
Control Plan ◽  
Microbial Proliferation ◽  
Positive Results

In recent years, the chaotic habits of modern life have favored the consumption of quickly prepared meals, using ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and condiments. The aim of this study was to establish the microbiological safety of RTE sauces and pesto from markets analyzed at different stages of shelf life. In the bacterial investigation, all samples were shown to be acceptable, although differences were observed concerning shelf life times. On the other hand, the fungal investigation showed frequent positive results, with concentrations higher than threshold values. Detected microbial diffusion was the lowest when products were far from the expiry date and had just been opened, while high microbial proliferation was observed when analyzing the same package after 48 h, higher than for a product close to the end of its shelf life. This study highlights the discreet microbiological quality of processed and RTE foods, underlining the importance of hygienic–sanitary surveillance of these foods to their shelf life. Consequently, it is necessary to: (1) implement a food control plan for all food categories to carry out risk analysis associated with their consumption; and (2) better adapt the regulations relating to microbiological analysis, and understand the biological significance of each microbial parameter throughout the shelf life of foods.

scholarly journals Testing the Fit of Regression Models Estimated with Extremely Small Samples: Application in Pharmaceutical Stability Studies

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Máté Mihalovits ◽  
Sándor Kemény
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Drug Product ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Model Misspecification ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Model Verification ◽  
Small Samples ◽  
Stability Studies ◽  
Pharmaceutical Stability

Pharmaceutical stability studies are conducted to estimate the shelf life, i.e. the period during which the drug product maintains its identity and stability. In the evaluation of process, regression curve is fitted on the data obtained during the study and the shelf life is determined using the fitted curve. The evaluation process suggested by ICH considers only the case of the true relationship between the measured attribute and time being linear. However, no method is suggested for the practitioner to decide if the linear model is appropriate for their dataset. This is a major problem, as a falsely selected model may distort the estimated shelf life to a great extent, resulting in unreliable quality control. The difficulty of model misspecification detection in stability studies is that very few observations are available. The conventional methods applied for model verification might not be appropriate or efficient due to the small sample size. In this paper, this problem is addressed and some developed methods are proposed to detect model misspecification. The methods can be applied for any process where the regression estimation is performed on independent small samples. Besides stability studies, frequently performed construction of single calibration curves for an analytical measurement is another case where the methods may be applied. It is shown that our methods are statistically appropriate and some of them have high efficiency in the detection of model misspecification when applied in simulated situations which resemble pre-approval and post-approval stability studies.

Are questionnaires a reliable method to measure food waste? A pilot study on Italian households

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 2885-2897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Giordano ◽  
Simone Piras ◽  
Matteo Boschini ◽  
Luca Falasconi
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Diary Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the reliability of questionnaires as a method of quantifying household food waste (FW), thus providing context regarding the validity of existing Italian estimates. Design/methodology/approach A total of 30 households were involved in a diary study that was conducted for one week. The participating households were first asked about their FW quantities in a questionnaire. Half of the households who filled their diaries properly were then audited through waste sorting analysis performed on their garbage. Non-parametric tests were used to test for differences in FW estimates between audited and non-audited households, as well as differences among estimates obtained through different quantification methodologies. Findings Edible FW was estimated to be 489 grams per week based on questionnaires, and 1,035 grams per week based on diaries. In the audited sub-sample of households, FW estimates were 334 grams per week based on questionnaires, 818 grams per week based on diaries and 1,058 grams per week based on waste sorting analysis. Research limitations/implications Given the small sample size in the present study, future studies can utilize larger samples to assess whether the differences identified in estimates can be replicated. Future studies can also inquire into the behavioral biases that led consumers to underestimate their FW. Practical implications Results of the present study point against the use of questionnaires to quantify household FW, hence raising some doubt on the reliability of existent Italian estimates. Where waste sorting is unfeasible, the use of adjustment methods or diaries is suggested to better inform policies. Originality/value This study is one of the first on FW quantification that tests three different methodologies on the same sample, and is the first to do so in Italy, where estimates are still very poor.

scholarly journals Microbiological Quality of Ready-to-Eat Salads During Shelf Life and Home Refrigeration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyexandra Arienzo ◽  
Lorenza Murgia ◽  
Ilaria Fraudentali ◽  
Valentina Gallo ◽  
Riccardo Angelini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Mesophilic Bacteria ◽  
Biological Survey ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The market of ready-to-eat salads is experiencing a noticeable growth in Europe. Since they are intended to be consumed without additional treatments, these ready-to-eat products are associated with a high microbiological risk. The aim of this work was to evaluate the microbiological quality and safety of ready-to-eat salads sold in widespread supermarket chains in Lazio, Italy, at the packaging date, during shelf-life and during home-refrigeration. The study also aimed to determine the differences between low, medium, and high cost products. Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes were chosen as safety indicators as specified by European regulations while total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Escherichia coli were chosen as quality indicators as suggested by national guidelines. Analyses were performed following the ISO standards and in parallel, for the evaluation of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, with an alternative colorimetric system, the Micro Biological Survey method, in order to propose a simple, affordable and accurate alternative for testing the microbiological quality of products, especially suitable for small and medium enterprises and on-site analyses. The study revealed high, unsatisfactory, total bacterial loads in all analyzed samples at the packaging date and expiring date and a very high prevalence of Salmonella spp. (67%) regardless of the selected varieties and cost-categories; L. monocytogenes was instead not recovered aligning with the results obtained in other studies.

scholarly journals Microbiological Quality of Ready-To-Eat Salads During Shelf Life and Home Refrigeration

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyexandra Arienzo ◽  
Lorenza Murgia ◽  
Ilaria Fraudentali ◽  
Valentina Gallo ◽  
Riccardo Angelini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Mesophilic Bacteria ◽  
European Regulations ◽  
Quality Of Products ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The market of ready-to-eat salads is experiencing a noticeable growth in Europe. The commercial success of these products is linked to the growing demand for fresh, healthy and nutritionally valuable products that can be consumed without preparation time and are perceived as safe and very high-quality products. Since they are intended to be consumed without additional treatments, these ready-to-eat products are associated with a high microbiological risk. The aim of this work was to evaluate the microbiological quality and safety of ready-to-eat salads sold in widespread supermarket chains in Lazio, Italy, at the packaging date, during shelf-life and during home-refrigeration. The study also aimed to determine the differences between low, medium and high cost products. Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes were chosen as safety indicators as specified by European regulations while total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Escherichia coli were chosen as quality indicators as suggested by national guidelines. Analyses were performed following the ISO standards and in parallel, for the evaluation of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, with an alternative colorimetric system, the MBS method, in order to propose a simple, affordable and accurate alternative for testing the microbiological quality of products, especially suitable for small and medium enterprises and on-site analyses.

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