Detection of airborne psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi in food storage refrigerators

Revista de microbiologia

Issa, Ghassan¹  Altunatmaz, Sema Sandikci² 

[1] Avrupa Vocational School, Istanbul, Turkey;Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

关键词: Airborne fungi;    psychrotrophic bacteria;    ready-to-eat food;    air sampler;    refrigerator.;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1517-83822012000400027

学科分类：农业科学（综合）

来源: Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia / Brazilian Society for Microbiology

【 摘 要 】

The purpose of this study was to determine the microbiological air quality (psychrotrophic bacteria and airborne fungi) and distribution of fungi in different types of ready-to-eat (RTE) food-storage refrigerators (n=48) at selected retail stores in the city of Edirne, Turkey. Refrigerators were categorized according to the type of RTE food-storage: meat products, vegetables, desserts, or a mix of food types. Microbiological quality of air samples was evaluated by using a Mas-100 Eco Air Sampler. Four refrigerators (all containing meat products, 8.3%) produced air samples with undetectable microorganisms. The highest detected mean value of airborne psychrotrophic bacteria and fungi was 82.3 CFU/m3 and 54.6 CFU/m3, respectively and were found in mixed-food refrigerators. The dominant airborne fungal genera found were Penicillium (29.0%), Aspergillus (12.0%), Mucor (9%), Cladosporium (8%), Botyrtis (7%), and Acremonium (6%). By definition, RTE food does not undergo a final treatment to ensure its safety prior to consumption. Therefore, ensuring a clean storage environment for these foods is important to prevent food-borne disease and other health risks.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC