Microbiological Quality of Shawarma in Saudi Arabia

1985 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 811-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. AYAZ ◽  
F. A. OTHMAN ◽  
T. O. BAHARETH ◽  
A. M. AL-SOGAIR ◽  
W. N. SAWAYA
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count ◽  
Meat Samples

A total of 108 shawarma (cooked meat) samples were aseptically collected from various fast-food restaurants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These samples were examined by standard procedures for determination of aerobic plate count (APC), and counts of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and the detection of salmonellae. The APC ranged from 102 to 3.0 × 108 CFU/g. The counts for coliforms, S. aureus and C. perfringens ranged from <10 to 106, <10 to 105 and <10 to 106 CFU/g, respectively. Twelve percent of the shawarma samples was positive for Salmonella. The results of this investigation indicate that foodborne pathogens present in shawarmas constitute a potential public health hazard.

Microbiological Quality of Tehineh Manufactured in Saudi Arabia

1986 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 504-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. AYAZ ◽  
W. N. SAWAYA ◽  
A. AL-SOGAIR
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Sesame Seeds ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Salmonella Hadar ◽  
Plate Counts ◽  
Salmonella Serotypes

Tehineh is a product obtained by the milling of dehulled and roasted white sesame seeds. A total of 50 tehineh samples was collected from ten processing plants in Saudi Arabia. These samples were examined by standard procedures for aerobic plate counts (APC) and counts of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, molds and yeasts and detection of salmonellae. APC of tehineh ranged from 20 to 170,000 CFU/g. The counts for coliforms, S. aureus, B. cereus, C. perfringens, and molds and yeasts ranged from <10 to 300, <10 to 400, <10 to 250, <10 to 100, <10 to 120 and <10 to 50 CFU/g, respectively. Two out of ten tehineh plants (20%) were positive for four Salmonella serotypes. Four Salmonella serotypes recovered were Salmonella hadar, Salmonella agona, Salmonella einsbuettel and Salmonella ubrecht, with S. hadar being the most predominant. The results of this investigation indicate that foodborne pathogens present in tehineh may constitute a potential public health hazard.

Relationships of Microbial Quality of Retail Meat Samples and Sanitary Conditions1

1980 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 385-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. JANE WYATT ◽  
V. GUY
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Microbiological Analysis ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count ◽  
Quality Of Products ◽  
Meat Samples ◽  
Sanitary Conditions

A sanitation profile scoring form for evaluating sanitation in retail food stores was designed. The profile was tested in 10 Oregon retail markets to evaluate its ability to reflect sanitary conditions. At the time of inspection, samples of meat processed in-store were purchased for microbiological analysis to explore the feasibility of bacterial quality as a measurement of sanitary conditions. Microbiological tests performed included total aerobic plate count (A PC), coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella. Certain deficiencies were noted in the profile designed; however, it provides a means for objective, uniform measurement of sanitary conditions. Data show no correlation exists between microbiological quality of products processed in the store and total store profile sanitary conditions. Fifty percent of the products sampled exceeded bacterial load guidelines currently enforced in Oregon. These “high” counts appear to be directly related to poor temperature control.

Microbiological Quality of Foodservice Menu Items Produced and Stored by Cook/Chill, Cook/Freeze, Cook/Hot-Hold and Heat/Serve Methods1

1984 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 876-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. O. SNYDER ◽  
M. E. MATTHEWS
Keyword(s):  
Fast Food ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Fecal Coliforms ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Clostridium Sporogenes ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
Health Significance ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count ◽  
Initial Heating

Microbiological quality of menu items prepared by cook/chill, cook/freeze, cook/hot-hold and heat/serve methods for producing and storing menu items in foodservice systems is reviewed. Of the 40 studies, 21 focused on the cook/chill method and two on the heat/serve. Nine studies on the microbiological quality of delicatessen and fast food were also reviewed. Microbiological evaluation included total plate count, mesophilic aerobic plate count, psychrotrophic aerobic plate count, streptococcal count, staphylococcal count, clostridial count, coliforms, fecal coliforms, yeast and mold, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium sporogenes, Streptococcus faecium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus spp., coagulase-positive staphylococci, fecal streptococci and Salmonella. In 29 of the studies, heat was applied to menu items at one or more process steps - initial heating, hot-holding and/or final heating. Initial heating temperatures for entrees ranged from 45 to 90°C, while final heating temperatures ranged from 23 to 98°C. Times ranged from 15 to 90 min for initial heating and 0.33 to 35 min for final heating. Continued research is needed to provide data on effects of time and temperature on the microbiological quality of menu items. Such data will provide foodservice practitioners with adequate assurance that chosen thermal processing methods destroy microorganisms of public health significance.

Microbiological Quality of Some Delicatessen Meat Products

1981 ◽  
Vol 44 (11) ◽  
pp. 821-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. P. TIWARI ◽  
V. W. KADIS
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Fecal Streptococci ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count ◽  
Coagulase Positive Staphylococci

A total of 124 delicatessen meat products were analysed for microbiological quality shortly after purchase and following storage at 22 C for 24 h. Sixty-seven of these products were portion packages and 57 were cuts from bulk products. Coliforms, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Clostridium perfringens contamination was low. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples. Initially, 34.3% of the portion-packed and 24.5% of bulk cuts contained more than 107 total aerobic plate count per g and, following storage this proportion increased to 62.7% and 57.9%, respectively. Eight samples (11.9%) of portion-packed and seven samples (12.3%) of bulk cuts contained more than 107 psychrotrophs per g initially. After storage, 35% of both types of products yielded >107 psychrotrophs per g. Significant levels of fecal streptococci and yeasts were also isolated from many of these products, indicating need for improvement in manufacturing procedures and retail storage conditions. However, the results of this investigation indicated that chances of a public health hazard from delicatessen meat products would be low.

Quality Standards For Retail Meats

1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 675-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
GAIL C. HOLLAND
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Health Hazard ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Potential Hazard ◽  
Processed Meats ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count

To be of public benefit a quality standard for meat at retail must do as it purports to do — i.e. to reduce the public hazard and/or prevent consumer deception. In addition, it must be technically workable for both the industry and the administrative branches of regulatory agencies. With processed meats and ground beef, it has not been demonstrated that they present a potential hazard. In addition, if a health hazard were demonstrated, it would not be reduced by the use of microbiological quality standards such as Aerobic Plate Count or number of Escherichia coli. Use of the bacterial criterion Aerobic Plate Count of 107/g, in place of organoleptic standards could reduce the retail shelf-life of processed meats by 20–66%. An Aerobic Plate Count, 107/g, could remove in excess of 33% of ground beef sold at retail level. In both instances a substantial quantity of wholesome meat would be prematurely removed from the retail market. Chemical standards such as protein, fat, moisture, cereal, are relatively static and do not substantially change over the retail shelf-life of meat. However the bacterial population in meat demonstrates a dynamic growth pattern. Hence the Aerobic Plate Count may indicate product age, but not necessarily product deterioration or potential health hazard. E. coli, although an intestinal bacterium, is capable of growing outside the host intestine, thrive on a variety of substrates and thrive for long periods. Thus the presence of E. coli cannot be correlated with the extent of initial fecal contamination, nor with the presence of pathogens. A program of increased awareness of personal hygiene, temperature control, stock rotation, elimination of areas for potential cross-contamination and a regular sanitation program throughout the meat cycle will guarantee the microbiological quality of meats at retail.

Study of the Microbial Ecology of Wild and Aquacultured Tunisian Fresh Fish

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1762-1768 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOUNA BOULARES ◽  
LOBNA MEJRI ◽  
MNASSER HASSOUNA
Keyword(s):  
Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Fresh Fish ◽  
Psychrotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count

Eighty samples of fresh fish were collected in Tunisia and analyzed for microbial load. Quality and hygienic safety of the meat and intestines of wild and aquacultured fresh fish were determined. The mesophilic aerobic plate count and populations of psychrotrophic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and other psychrotrophic bacteria ranged from 5.67 to 7.29, 4.51 to 6, and 5.07 to 6.21 log CFU/g, respectively. For all microbiological determinations, bacterial counts were lower in meat than in the intestines of fresh fish. For all samples lower microbial populations were found in most of the wild fish than in the aquacultured fish. No isolates of the pathogenic genera Salmonella and Listeria were detected in any sample. Among the 160 strains of biopreservative psychrotrophic LAB and the 150 strains of spoilage psychrotrophic gram-negative bacteria identified by biochemical and molecular methods, Lactobacillus (six species) and Pseudomonas (six species) predominated. Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Carnobacterium (C. piscicola and C. divergens), Aeromonas, and Photobacterium were the most common genera, and Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Aeromonas hydrophila were the most common species. These findings indicate that the microbiological quality of fresh fish in Tunisia can be preserved by controlling pathogenic and psychrotrophic bacteria.

Survey of the Bacterial Populations of Bologna Products1,2

1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 692-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN T. FRUIN ◽  
JAMES F. FOSTER ◽  
JAMES L. FOWLER
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Retail Market ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Retail Markets ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count

Bologna products most frequently are stored and consumed as refrigerated products. Thus bacteria that survive processing or those that contaminate the product subsequent to processing are not destroyed. Ten types of presliced, vacuum-packaged bologna products were purchased from a high-volume retail market and analyzed for total aerobic plate count (APC) and common foodborne pathogens. No Salmonella were isolated. Less than 1% of the 419 samples analyzed contained either Clostridium perfringens or Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 4% of the samples, but only one sample contained more than 1000/g. Just over 5% of the samples contained coliform organisms. The manufacturer appeared to play an important role in bacterial quality of the finished items. An APC < 5 × 106/g is a realistic criterion for bologna products at the time of delivery to retail markets.

Handwashing Observations in Fast-Food and Full-Service Restaurants: Results from the 2014 FDA Retail Food Risk Factors Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Verrill ◽  
Marc Boyer ◽  
Laurie Williams ◽  
Jessica Otto ◽  
Amy Lando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Management System ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Safety Management System ◽  
Food Protection ◽  
Food Contact Surfaces ◽  
Fast Food Restaurants ◽  
Retail Food

Properly executed handwashing by food employees can greatly minimize the risk of transmitting foodborne pathogens to food and food contact surfaces in restaurants. However, food employee handwashing is often not done correctly nor does it occur as often as it should. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative impact of 1) the convenience and accessibility of handwashing facilities; 2) the maintenance of handwashing supplies, 3) multi-unit status, 4) having a Certified Food Protection Manager, and 5) having a Food Safety Management System on compliance with proper handwashing. Results showed marked differences in handwashing behaviors between fast-food and full-service restaurants. Forty-five percent of fast-food restaurants and 57% of full-service restaurants were found to be out of compliance for washing hands correctly. Fifty-seven percent of fast-food establishments and 78% of full-service establishments were out-of-compliance for employee hands being washed when required. Logistic regression results point toward the benefits of accessibility and maintenance of the handwashing sink and food establishments having a Food Safety Management System to increase the likelihood of employees washing hands when they are supposed to and washing them correctly when they do.

Microbiological Evaluation of Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) Processing

1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN C. RIDLEY ◽  
BOHDAN M. SLABY J
Keyword(s):  
Salt Water ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Water Medium ◽  
Pandalus Borealis ◽  
Plate Count Agar ◽  
Cooking Process ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count

Line samples from three different shrimp processing plants (brine-cooked shell-on, hand-peeled raw, and machine-peeled cooked) in Maine were examined for microbiological quality. Aerobic plate count (APC) of freshly caught shrimp (Pandalus borealis) was found to be about 530/g (Plate Count Agar at 35 C) while salt-requiring (SR) organisms were at significantly higher concentration (1.11 ×105/g; Salt Water Medium at 21 C). Some increase in psychrotrophic-mesophilic flora of shrimp delivered to the plant was observed. Cooking in-plant or on board the boat drastically reduced the SR flora, which was subsequently observed to increase after culling and inspection in the brine-cooked shell-on process. No such significant fluctuation due to processing was detected in APC. Shrimp sampled from steel barrels before a hand-peeled raw operation exhibited relatively high APC (7.2 × 104/g) and SR microflora (2.78 × 106/g). Heading and hand-peeling reduced the APC and SR bacterial loads by 71 and 95%, respectively. Subsequent processing and holding at room temperature resulted in a product with an APC and SR load of about 4 × 104/g. Similarly, high APC (1.66 × 105/g) and SR bacterial loads (1.84 × 105/g) were detected in samples obtained from a storage hopper of the machine-peeled cooking process. Although significant reduction in bacterial load was detected on line samples of this process (fluming, preheating, and cooking), the total bacterial load reached about 4 × 104/g before the canning step. Low levels of contamination with coliform and/or coagulase-positive staphylococci were detected in the three processes studied.

A National Survey of the Microbiological Quality of Retail Raw Meats in Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1232-1236 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID PHILLIPS ◽  
DAVID JORDAN ◽  
STEPHEN MORRIS ◽  
IAN JENSON ◽  
JOHN SUMNER
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Typhimurium ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Microbiological Quality ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Phage Types ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Aerobic Plate Count ◽  
Coagulase Positive Staphylococci

A national survey of the microbiology of meat (ground beef and diced lamb) at the retail level in Australia was undertaken. For ground beef samples (n = 360), the mean aerobic plate count (APC) was 5.79 log CFU/g, and Escherichia coli was detected in 17.8% of samples; the mean population for these positive samples was 1.49 log CFU/g. Enterobacteriaceae were detected in 96.9% of samples (mean for positive samples, 3.01 log CFU/g), and coagulase-positive staphylococci were detected in 28.1% of samples (mean for positive samples, 2.18 log CFU/g). For diced lamb samples (n = 360), the mean APC was 5.71 log CFU/g, and E. coli was detected in 16.7% of samples (mean for positive samples, 1.67 log CFU/g). Enterobacteriaceae were detected in 91.1% of samples (mean for positive samples, 2.85 log CFU/g), and coagulase-positive staphylococci were detected in 22.5% of samples (mean for positive samples, 2.34 log CFU/g). Salmonella was recovered from 4 (1.1%) of the 360 ground beef samples (isolates were Salmonella Typhimurium phage types), and E. coli O157 was recovered from 1 (0.3%) of 357 samples; Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens were not recovered from any of the 91 and 94 samples tested, respectively. Salmonella was recovered from 2 (0.6%) of the 360 diced lamb samples (serovars were Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Typhimurium), Campylobacter was recovered from 1 (1.1%) of 95 samples, and C. perfringens was recovered from 1 (1.1%) of 92 samples.

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