Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat vacuum and modified atmosphere packaged meat and fish products of Estonian origin at retail level. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kramarenko, Toomas; Roasto, Mati; Keto-Timonen, Riikka; Mäesaar, Mihkel; Meremäe, Kadrin; Kuningas, Maiu; Hörman, Ari; Korkeala, Hannu
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 67(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Listeria monocytogenes -- Prevalence -- Counts -- RTE meat products -- RTE fish products; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.02.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: The prevalence, counts and genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) vacuum and modified atmosphere packaged meat and fish products was studied in Estonia. Within two consecutive years 370 RTE food samples were collected at retail level from which 11% were found to be positive for L . monocytogenes . Contamination was higher among RTE fish products (17%) than in RTE meat products (6%). Generally, the counts of L . monocytogenes in positive products remained under ten colony forming units (CFU) per gram of product. Only 1.6% of the RTE meat and fish products contained L . monocytogenes in range of 10–100 CFU/g and 0.3% more than 100 CFU/g at the end of shelf-life. The food category containing highest L . monocytogenes prevalence was RTE lightly salted fish products with the prevalence of 32%. Only one (0.3%) RTE food sample exceeded the 100 CFU/g food safety criterion set out in the EU Regulation 2073/2005. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) characterization of the isolates showed an overall similarity higher than 70%, and nine clusters based on 100% similarity were revealed. PFGE genotyping revealed that the few predominant pulsotypes were associated with particular food plants. Highlights: Most contaminated RTE products were slightly salted and cold-smoked fish. The count of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE products were in compliance with the EU food safety criterion. All L . monocytogenes isolates belonged to the serotype 1/2a. Isolates showed genetic similarity higher than 70%. Few predominant PFGE pulsotypes were associated with particular food plants.