engleski

The incidence of Listeria monocytegenes in meat products, Zagreb area, Croatia

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen involved in several outbreaks and sporadic cases of food-borne illness associated with the consuption of contaminated foods. It can be isolated from dairy products, meat and meat products and other foods. Its wide-spread existence in different foods is related to its abilyti to grow and survive in unfavourable conditions. This study examined the incidence of L. monocytogenes in meat and meat products in the Zagreb area, Croatia. In meat products, L. monocytogenes is often affected by several types of stress caused by the processing treatment, like heating, freezing and drying. Recovering stressed L. monocytogenes from food is of great importance, because sublethally injured bacteria can recover and regain their pathogenicity. A total of 202 samples were examined, from stores, butcher shops and restaurants L. monocytogenes was isolated from approximately 23% of raw meat and thermally treated products, meaning the danger of disease is slim, but a good thermal processing is by allmeans necessary. L. monocytogenes was alsofound in meat by-products for end-use, i.e. in those products which will get no further thermal treatment. One needs to exercise extreme caution with these products, since they are being kept on refrigerator temperature, which allows L. monocytogenes to multiply. Therefore, such high-risk food items need to be regularly inspected for the existence oft his rare pathogen.

L. monocytogenes; meat products

nije evidentirano