Public health hazards of mechanically deboned poultry meat (minced chicken meat) [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Several pathogens have increased in prevalence associated with new food vehicles. Mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM) is a new product introduced to Egyptian markets with lack of Egyptian standard specifications (ESS). To assess the microbial load of this product, twenty frozen samples and their bag swabs (20 samples of each) were c'JlIected from the local markets in Cairo & Giza Governorates. They were bacteriolagically examined, especially for microorganisms of public health concern. The examination revealed that the total aerobic and psychrotrophic counts of this product were 7.4 x 105 and 3.7 x 10 4 respectively. The most probable number (MPN) for coliforms and faecal coliforms of this product were 4.9 x 10 3 and 4.5 x 10 3 respectively, .Staphylococcus aureus count was 7.9 x 10 3 and total yeast and mould counts were 1.6 x 106 and 3.9 x 105 respectively. The microbial quality was evaluated in relation to micromganisms implicated as food poisoning agents as, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, Clostridium species, Campylobacter species and E.coli biotype I. They were isolated from the product and its bag swabs. None was contaminated with E.coli O157. The obtained results evidenced significant correlation between the . microorganisms recovered from the examined samples and those isolated from their bag swabs. The present study emphasized that MDPM harbors high burden of pathogenic microorganisms, having the possibility of transmission from or/ to this product to seller hands as well as to the consequent food products. The potential public health hazards and the recommended hygienic measures to ensure the safety and quality of this product were discussed.

Summary in Arabic.

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