Batcteriological evaluation of beef luncheon in Alexandria markets

Abstract EN

Atotal of 50 random samples of locally processed beef luncheon were collected from Alexandria market.

The samples were transferred directily to the laboratory where they were examined organoleptically, chemically and bacteriologically.

The organoleptic examination revealed that the examined samples had normal colour, acceptable odour and normal consistency.

The chemical examination indicated that the PH within the permissible limits (5.4).

Bacteriological examination of all samples revealed that the mean value of the total aerobic plate count, total anaerobic counts, total Enterobacteriaceae count, total Coliform count, total E- coli count, total Staphylococcus count and total Bacillus cereus counts were 9.5 × 10 5, 1.3 × 10 3, 1.6 × 104, 8.4 × 10 2, 14, 1.4 × 10 3 and 1.2 × 10 4 cfu / gram respectively. Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were isolated from the examined beef luncheon samples at an incidence of 4, 8, 6, 4 and 8 % respectively, on the other hand Salmonella microorganisms could not be isolated from any of the examined samples.

Escherichia coli strains were serotyped as 055 : k 59. The public heath significance of the isolated microorganisms as well as suggestion for improving the quality of locally beef luncheon were discussed.