title: Evaluation of the microbial safety of child food of animal origin in Greece.
abstract: Foodborne illness is a major cause of morbidity and mortality especially for children, even in the developed world. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial safety of food of animal origin intended for consumption by children in Greece. Sampling involved 8 categories of retail products and was completed with a collection of 850 samples. These were tested by PCR and/or culture for Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella spp., Cronobacter sakazakii, Brucella spp., and Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP). The number of positive results recorded collectively for the pathogens under investigation over the total number of samples tested was 3.52% and 0.12% by PCR and culture, respectively. The most frequently detected pathogen was enterohemorrhagic E. coli (1.29%) followed by Brucella (0.82%) and Listeria (0.82%). DNA belonging to MAP was detected in 0.35% of samples, which was also the percentage of positivity recorded for Campylobacter. The percentage for Salmonella was 0.12%. It can be concluded from the results that there is no indication of noncompliance for the tested food samples. However, detection of DNA belonging to pathogens that are transmissible to humans through food is indicative that constant vigilance regarding food safety is an absolute necessity.
authors: Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural Univ. of Athens, 75 Iera Odos St., 11855, Athens, Greece.
authors: Emmanouil
authors: E
authors: Liandris
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Gazouli
authors: Styliani
authors: S
authors: Taka
authors: Margarita
authors: M
authors: Andreadou
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Vaiopoulou
authors: Nikolaos
authors: N
authors: Tzimotoudis
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Kasampalidis
authors: Dionysis
authors: D
authors: Mpaseas
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Fyliousis
authors: Palmiro
authors: P
authors: Poltronieri
authors: Palmiro
authors: P
authors: Poltrionieri
authors: Nigel
authors: N
authors: Cook
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Ikonomopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce / Q000592:standards*; D044083:Cronobacter sakazakii / Q000235:genetics; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D004032:Diet; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008087:Listeria / Q000235:genetics; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000235:genetics; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics
keywords: child food; foodborne pathogens; molecular detection; paratuberculosis; sakazakii