Journal
FOOD CONTROL
Volume 19, Issue 7, Pages 727-733Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2007.07.004
Keywords
microbiology; ready-to-eat foods; retail delicatessens
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A microbiological survey of ready-to-eat (RTE) filled baguettes (35), salads (35), cutting boards (23), selected utensils (preparation knives and serving spoons) (46 each) and hands of food handlers (24) in 4 retail delicatessens in Johannesburg, South Africa was conducted. All samples were analysed using standard plating techniques. Similar counts of aerobic bacteria (APC ca. 9 log CFU/g), and coliforms (CC) and E. coli (EC) (ca. 5-6 log CFU/g) were determined for filled baguettes and salads. Staphylococcus aureus (SAC) (ca. 2 log CFU/g), Bacillus cereus (BCC) (ca. 2 log CFU/g), Salmonella spp. (16%) and Listeria monocytogenes (4%) were also present in some of the RTE foods. Highest APCs were found on serving spoons (5.1 log CFU/cm(-2)), while highest CCs and ECs were found on cutting boards (ca. 4 and 1.5 log CFU/cm(-2), respectively). Results from this study suggested that good-hygienic practices aimed at minimizing bacterial counts on preparation surfaces be controlled as these may be reservoirs for bacterial contamination of RTE-foods in retail delicatessens. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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