KAFKAS UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI, cilt.19, sa.6, ss.1001-1006, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
This study was designed to evaluate the microbiological quality of RTE salads sold at retail in Afyonkarahisar. Total of 261 Ready-to-eat (RTE) salad samples (58 Russian salad, 52 sesar salad, 45 tuna fish salad, 57 Mediterranean salad and 49 cig kofte) collected from 7 different private restaurants, cafes and shopping centers were microbiologically analysed during 2011-2012. Total viable count (TVC), Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae and yeast and mold counts of the samples were determined. Of the total of 261 samples, 55.1% and 54% were found to be contaminated with >6 log cfu/g TVC and > 4 log cfu/g Enterobacteriaceae respectively whereas 13% of which were found to be contaminated with > 2 log cfu/g S. aureus. All of Mediterranean salads were contaminated with > 6 log cfu/g TVC and >4 log cfu/g Enterobacteriaceae and similarly, most of tuna fish and sesar salad samples were found to be contaminated with these agents with the contamination levels of 83.3% and 86.6%, 71.1% and 75% respectively. The results of this study revealed that the high contaminations of these foods may be a potential hazard for public health.