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Salmonella enterica is among the most important foodborne pathogens. In Ecuador, there is limited information about non-typhoidal S. enterica occurrence in raw meats, its serotype distribution, and antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we addressed this issue in 1095 retail fresh meats (chicken, pork, veal, lamb, beef, and turkey) in Quito by performing a traditional culture methodology and molecular detection. We found that S. enterica was present in 38.1% of the samples, and Salmonella Infantis was the most common serotype showing a high antibiotic resistance and a wide host range. Some host-adapted serotypes were found in uncommon sources of meat, suggesting cross-contamination and the need to implement good manufacturing practices in meat processing. High levels of multidrug resistance were found in all serotypes. There is an urgent need to identify Salmonella serotypes in food to compare with clinical data and to carry out epidemiological studies to control and prevent outbreaks and infections.

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The consumption of wildlife meat is traditionally accepted in the Peruvian Amazon; however, little is known about the pathogens present in this type of food. One of the most frequently consumed species is a rodent, the paca (Cuniculus paca) or "majaz" in the Peruvian language. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Salmonella enterica and its antimicrobial resistance profile in paca carcasses sold in the Belen Market of Iquitos-Peru. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out. Fresh and smoked paca carcasses (72 samples) were evaluated during the low-rain period (July 2019) in the traditional market of Iquitos, in the Amazonian Region. Meat samples were swabbed, and International Standards Organization (ISO) 6579-1: 2017 protocol was followed to Salmonella isolation. Antimicrobial susceptibility analysis was performed by the disk diffusion method. In addition, serotyping was performed by using the Kauffmann-White scheme. A total of 25 strains of S. enterica were isolated in the paca carcasses, mainly in fresh carcasses (48.6%). The serovars isolated were Agona (45.8%), Infantis (41.7%), Wangata (8.3%), and Javiana (4.2%). A considerable number of the isolated strains were multidrug resistant (40%). The highest prevalence of resistance corresponded to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (64%) followed by nitrofurantoin (44%), chloramphenicol (40%), cefotaxime (40%), and nalidixic acid (40%). Ten strains isolated (40%) were identified as producers of extended spectrum beta lactamases, all in S. enterica serovar Infantis. This study describes the presence of Salmonella Infantis with multidrug resistance profiles in wildlife meat carcasses, making the consumption of this type of products a risk factor for the development of foodborne diseases in the Amazon region. Institutional Review Board: Approval Resolution of Thesis Project: N° 024-DACMVZ-DAFCVB-U.CIENTÍFICA-2019.

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Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade microbiológica de queijo de coalho não inspecionado vendidos em estabelecimentos comerciais do município de Garanhuns-PE, foram adquiridas e analisadas oito (08) amostras deste tipo de queijo quanto a presença de coliformes totais (CT) e termotolerantes (CTT), Salmonella spp., estafilococos coagulase positiva (ECP) e Listeria monocytogenes. Foram verificados valores >2400 NMP/g para CT e CTT em 100% das amostras. Salmonella spp. foi detectada em 25% (2/8) e a contagem de estafilococos coagulase positiva foi acima do permitido em 62,5% (5/8) das amostras. A presença de L. monocytogenes não foi verificada nas amostras analisadas. Assim, a comercialização do queijo de coalho sem a devida inspeção prévia, como previsto, não tem garantia de qualidade e coloca em risco a saúde da população.(AU)

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Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade microbiológica de queijo de coalho não inspecionado vendidos em estabelecimentos comerciais do município de Garanhuns-PE, foram adquiridas e analisadas oito (08) amostras deste tipo de queijo quanto a presença de coliformes totais (CT) e termotolerantes (CTT), Salmonella spp., estafilococos coagulase positiva (ECP) e Listeria monocytogenes. Foram verificados valores >2400 NMP/g para CT e CTT em 100% das amostras. Salmonella spp. foi detectada em 25% (2/8) e a contagem de estafilococos coagulase positiva foi acima do permitido em 62,5% (5/8) das amostras. A presença de L. monocytogenes não foi verificada nas amostras analisadas. Assim, a comercialização do queijo de coalho sem a devida inspeção prévia, como previsto, não tem garantia de qualidade e coloca em risco a saúde da população.

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The most frequently notified pathogenic microorganisms in the RASFF in 1980⁻2017 were Salmonella sp., Listeria, Escherichia and Vibrio, whereas, among the notified non-pathogenic microorganisms were unspecified microorganisms, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella sp. and Coliforms. Microorganisms were reported mainly in poultry meat, meat, fish, molluscs, crustaceans, fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts, milk, cereals (in food) and in feed materials and pet food (in feed). The number of notifications decreased at the turn of 2005 and 2006, but has steadily increased since then. The notification basis were official controls, border controls and company's checks. Products were notified mainly by Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany and Netherlands. The reported products originated from Brazil, European Union countries and India, Thailand and Vietnam. The notification types were alerts, information and border rejections. The distribution status was often not specified or distribution on the market was possible. The risk decision was usually not made. Products were re-dispatched, import was not authorised or products were withdrawn from the market, destroyed and recalled from the market. Proper cooperation within the framework of the RASFF can contribute to shaping public health law and reducing outbreaks associated with microorganisms.

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A segurança dos alimentos é garantida principalmente pelo controle da origem, do processo, da formulação do produto e pela aplicação de Boas Práticas de Higiene (BPF) na produção, no processamento, na manipulação, na distribuição, no armazenamento, na comercialização, na preparação e no uso. Este trabalho avaliou a qualidade de 15 tapiocas com recheios a base de frango comercializadas em uma feira livre, por meio de análise microbiológica preconizada na RDC 12 (BRASIL, 2001), para micro-organismos Coliformes a 45°C (UFC/g), Estafilococos coagulase positiva (UFC/g), Bacillus cereus 30°C (UFC/g), Clostridium sulfito redutor (UFC/g) e Salmonella sp (25g) avaliando a eficiência do processo de produção e manipulação das tapiocas. Observou-se que uma amostra apresentou resultado acima do padrão (7,8 x 10exp3 UFC/g) estabelecido em legislação para Estaf.coag.positiva. O resultado representa 6,7% fora do padrão das amostras analisadas para Estaf.coag.positiva e 1,3% do total geral das amostras analisadas. Tais achados demonstraram que o processo de produção e manipulação das tapiocas podem causar riscos para os seus consumidores por apresentarem contaminação por Estaf.coag.positiva, que sintetizam enterotoxinas e podem ser danosas à saúde.(AU)

Food safety is mainly ensured by control of the origin, process, product formulation and application of Good Hygiene Practices (GMP) in production, processing, handling, distribution, storage, marketing, preparation and in use. This work evaluated the quality of 15 tapiocas with chicken based fillings marketed in a free market, through microbiological analysis recommended in RDC 12(BRASIL, 2001), for Coliform microorganisms at 45°C (UFC / g), Staphylococcus coagulase positive UFC / g), Bacillus cereus 30°C (UFC / g),Clostridium sulfite reductant (UFC /g) and Salmonella sp (25g) evaluating the efficiency of the tapioca production and manipulation process. It was observed that one sample had an above-standard result (7.8 x10exp3 UFC / g) established in legislation for Estaf.coag.positiva. The result represents 6.7% of the samples analyzed for Estaf.coag.positiva and 1.3% of the total of the analyzed samples. These findings showed that the production process and manipulation of the tapiocas can cause risks for its consumers because they are contaminated by Estaf.coag.positiva, which synthesize entertoxins and can be harmful to health.(AU)

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The guarantee of the high quality of rice is of utmost importance because any toxic contaminant may affect consumer health, especially in countries such as Brazil where rice is part of the daily diet. A total of 187 rice samples, from field, processing and market from two different production systems, wetland from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, dryland, from the state of Maranhão and market samples from the state of São Paulo, were analyzed for fungi belonging to Aspergillus section Flavi and the presence of aflatoxins. Twenty-three soil samples from wetland and dryland were also analyzed. A total of 383 Aspergillus section Flavi strains were isolated from rice and soil samples. Using a polyphasic approach, with phenotypic (morphology and extrolite profiles) and molecular data (beta-tubulin gene sequences), five species were identified: A. flavus, A. caelatus, A. novoparasiticus, A. arachidicola and A. pseudocaelatus. This is the first report of these last three species from rice and rice plantation soil. Only seven (17%) of the A. flavus isolates produced type B aflatoxins, but 95% produced kojic acid and 69% cyclopiazonic acid. Less than 14% of the rice samples were contaminated with aflatoxins, but two of the market samples were well above the maximum tolerable limit (5µg/kg), established by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency.

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This study addressed the occurrence of Listeriamonocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in bovine carcasses at two slaughterhouses in southern Brazil. Then, the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and the virulence potential of the isolates were evaluated. Two hundred carcasses were sampled at four steps of the slaughter process, with L. monocytogenes being isolated in 12 and Salmonella spp. in 17 carcasses. All L. monocytogenes isolates carried the hlyA, prfA, plcA, plcB, actA, iap, mpl, inlA, inlB, inlC, and inlJ genes, while Salmonella spp. carried invA and hilA. Among the L. monocytogenes isolates, all of them presented virulence determinants and one showed multi-drug resistance. In relationship to Salmonella spp. isolates, many serogroups frequently related to outbreaks of foodborne diseases were identified and four isolates showed resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent. This data highlights the importance of a rigid hygienic-sanitary control during the slaughter process to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and lower the consumer exposure to L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. infections.

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During a Brazilian multicentric antimicrobial resistance surveillance study, colistin resistance was investigated in 4,620 Enterobacteriaceae isolated from human, animal, food and environmental samples collected from 2000 to 2016. We present evidence that mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli has been emerging in South America since at least 2012, supporting a previous report on the possible acquisition of mcr-1-harbouring E. coli by European travellers visiting Latin American countries.

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Growth curves were evaluated for aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus spp., grown in raw, salted, and cooked chicken breast at 2, 4, 7, 10, 15, and 20 ℃, respectively, using the modified Gompertz and modified logistic models. Shelf life was determined based on microbiological counts and sensory analysis. Temperature increase reduced the shelf life, which varied from 10 to 26 days at 2 ℃, from nine to 21 days at 4 ℃, from six to 12 days at 7 ℃, from four to eight days at 10 ℃, from two to four days at 15 ℃, and from one to two days at 20 ℃. In most cases, cooked chicken breast showed the highest microbial count, followed by raw breast and lastly salted breast. The data obtained here were useful for the generation of mathematical models and parameters. The models presented high correlation and can be used for predictive purposes in the poultry meat supply chain.

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Microbiological contaminations and other food safety hazards are omnipresent within the European Union (EU) and a considerable risk for consumers, particularly in imported meat and meat products. The number of rejections at external EU borders has been increasing in recent years. Official authorities in each member state are therefore obliged to notify border rejections of food and animal feed due to a direct or indirect risk to human or animal health. This study explored the trends and temporal and spatial distribution of notifications on food safety hazards between January 2008 and December 2013 with a special emphasis on microbiological zoonoses in meat and meat products including poultry at border checks resulting from the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF). Results indicated that border rejection notifications are increasing exponentially, frequently due to Salmonella in poultry and shiga-toxin-producing E. coli in meat and meat products.

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Salmonella is the most common etiological agent of cases and outbreaks of foodborne diarrheal illnesses. The emergence and spread of Salmonella spp., which has become multi-drug resistant and potentially more pathogenic, have increased the concern with this pathogen. In this study, 237 Salmonella spp., associated or not with foodborne salmonellosis in Brazil, belonging mainly to serotype Enteritidis, were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of the virulence genes spvC, invA, sefA and pefA. Of the isolates, 46.8% were sensitive to all antimicrobials and 51.9% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent was observed in 10.5% of the strains. The highest rates of resistance were observed for streptomycin (35.9%) and nalidixic acid (16.9%). No strain was resistant to cefoxitin, cephalothin, cefotaxime, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem. The invA gene was detected in all strains. Genes spvC and pefA were found in 48.1% and 44.3% of strains, respectively. The gene sefA was detected in 31.6% of the strains and only among S. Enteritidis. Resistance and virulence determinants were detected in Salmonella strains belonging to several serotypes. The high rates of antibiotic-resistance in strains isolated from poultry products demonstrate the potential risk associated with the consumption of these products and the need to ensure good food hygiene practices from farm to table to reduce the spread of pathogens relevant to public health.

Salmonella é o agente etiológico mais comumente envolvido em casos e surtos de doenças diarréicas de origem alimentar. A preocupação com este patógeno é, ainda, maior quando se verifica o surgimento e a disseminação de cepas multirresistentes e potencialmente mais patogênicas. Neste estudo, 237 cepas Salmonella spp., associadas ou não com casos ou surtos de salmonelose e pertencentes, principalmente, ao sorovar Enteritidis, foram avaliadas quanto ao perfil de susceptibilidade antimicrobiana e presença dos genes de virulência spvC, invA, sefA e pefA. Entre as cepas avaliadas, 46,8% foram sensíveis a todos os agentes antimicrobianos e 51,9% foram resistentes a pelo menos uma droga. Multirresistência foi observada em 10,5% das cepas. As maiores taxas de resistência foram observadas para estreptomicina (35,9%) e ácido nalidíxico (16,9%). Não foram detectadas cepas resistentes à cefoxitina, cefalotina, cefotaxima, amicacina, ciprofloxaxina e imipenem. O gene invA foi detectado em todas as cepas de Salmonella. Os genes spvC e pefA foram encontrados em 48,1% e 44,3% das cepas, respectivamente. O gene sefA foi detectado em 31,6% das cepas, estando presente somente entre as cepas de S. Enteritidis. Resistência antimicrobiana e marcadores de virulência foram detectados em cepas de Salmonella pertencentes a diversos sorovares. A alta taxa de resistência antimicrobiana verificada em cepas isoladas de frangos e derivados demonstra o potencial risco associado ao consumo destes produtos e a necessidade de se assegurar boas práticas de higiene em toda cadeia produtiva para reduzir a disseminação de patógenos relevantes para a saúde pública.

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Salmonella is the most common etiological agent of cases and outbreaks of foodborne diarrheal illnesses. The emergence and spread of Salmonella spp., which has become multi-drug resistant and potentially more pathogenic, have increased the concern with this pathogen. In this study, 237 Salmonella spp., associated or not with foodborne salmonellosis in Brazil, belonging mainly to serotype Enteritidis, were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of the virulence genes spvC, invA, sefA and pefA. Of the isolates, 46.8% were sensitive to all antimicrobials and 51.9% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent was observed in 10.5% of the strains. The highest rates of resistance were observed for streptomycin (35.9%) and nalidixic acid (16.9%). No strain was resistant to cefoxitin, cephalothin, cefotaxime, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem. The invA gene was detected in all strains. Genes spvC and pefA were found in 48.1% and 44.3% of strains, respectively. The gene sefA was detected in 31.6% of the strains and only among S. Enteritidis. Resistance and virulence determinants were detected in Salmonella strains belonging to several serotypes. The high rates of antibiotic-resistance in strains isolated from poultry products demonstrate the potential risk associated with the consumption of these products and the need to ensure good food hygiene practices from farm to table to reduce the spread of pathogens relevant to public health.

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Food-borne diseases are among the major public health problems that currently exist. Microbiological risk assessment is a process used to evaluate the hidden hazards in food, the likelihood of exposure to these hazards and their impact on public health. Risk assessment is performed in four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterization, assessment of exposure and risk characterization. According to the process/response microbial risk assessment is classified in two categories, qualitative and quantitative. The aim of this review is to underline the importance of implementing assessments in seafood that is usually consumed raw, strengthening access to good quality and safe food for the consumer's benefit and to stress the necessity of microbiological risks assessments in Mexico.

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Las enfermedades transmitidas por los alimentos son uno de los mayores problemas de salud pública que actualmente existen. La evaluación del riesgo microbiológico es un proceso utilizado para examinar los peligros ocultos en los alimentos, la probabilidad de exposición a éstos y su impacto en la salud pública. La evaluación del riesgo se realiza en cuatro fases: identificación del peligro, caracterización del peligro, evaluación de la exposición y caracterización del riesgo. De acuerdo con el proceso/resultado, las evaluaciones de riesgo microbiológico se clasifican en dos categorías: cualitativa y cuantitativa. La presente revisión pretende enmarcar la importancia de implementar estas evaluaciones en alimentos de origen marino que son consumidos crudos, fortaleciendo así el acceso a los alimentos inocuos y de buena calidad para beneficio del consumidor, y la necesidad de evaluaciones de riesgo microbiológico que hay en México.

Food-borne diseases are among the major public health problems that currently exist. Microbiological risk assessment is a process used to evaluate the hidden hazards in food, the likelihood of exposure to these hazards and their impact on public health. Risk assessment is performed in four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterization, assessment of exposure and risk characterization. According to the process/response microbial risk assessment is classified in two categories, qualitative and quantitative. The aim of this review is to underline the importance of implementing assessments in seafood that is usually consumed raw, strengthening access to good quality and safe food for the consumer's benefit and to stress the necessity of microbiological risks assessments in Mexico.

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Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors capable of in real time detection of Cronobacter at concentrations down to 106 cells mL⁻¹ in samples of consumer fresh-whole fat milk, powder whole-fat milk preparation, and powder infant formulation were developed for the first time. Antibodies against Cronobacter were covalently attached onto polymer brushes of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)) grafted from the SPR chip surface. The lowest detection limit, 104 cells mL⁻¹, was achieved in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) with sensors prepared by covalent immobilization of the same antibodies onto a self assembled monolayer (SAM) of hexa(ethylene glycol) undecanethiol (EG6). However, when the EG6 based sensors were challenged with milk samples the non-specific response due to the deposition of non-targeted compounds from the milk samples was much higher than the specific response to Cronobacter hampering the detection in milk. Similar interfering fouling was observed on antifouling polymer brushes of hydroxy-capped oligoethylene glycol methacrylate and even a 10 times higher fouling was observed on the widely used SAM of mixed hydroxy- and carboxy-terminated alkanethiols. Only poly(HEMA) brushes totally suppressed the fouling from milk samples. The robust well-controlled surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of HEMA allowed the preparation of highly dense brushes with a minimal thickness so that the capture of antigens by the antibodies immobilized on the brush layer could take place close to the gold SPR surface to provide a stronger optical response while the fouling was still suppressed. A minimum thickness of 19 nm of poly(HEMA) brush layer was necessary to suppress completely non-specific sensor response to fouling from milk.

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Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade físico-química e microbiológica do leite UHT comercializado em três países do Mercosul, as amostras de 04 marcas diferentes vendidas nas cidades de Foz do Iguaçu (Brasil), de Puerto Iguazú (Argentina) e de Ciudad del Este (Paraguai) foram submetidas a determinação de matéria gorda, acidez, estabilidade ao etanol 68%, 72%, 76% e 80%, extrato seco total e extrato seco desengordurado, pH, densidade e crioscopia, além da contagem de microrganismos mesófilos e psicrotróficos. Na avaliação físico-química do leite UHT conclui-se que um número significativo de amostras apresentou-se fora dos padrões de qualidade para gordura, extrato seco desengordurado, densidade e crioscopia; os leites analisados exibiram resistência (estabilidade) ao etanol a 68%, salvo uma das marcas do Brasil; médias de valores de pH estavam adequados para as marcas de leite do Brasil, e valores elevados nas marcas de leite do Paraguai. Quanto aos resultados das análises microbiológicas, 37,5% das amostras do Brasil, 62,5 % das amostras da Argentina e 12,5% das amostras do Paraguai apresentaram valores acima dos valores limites para microrganismos mesófilos. Quanto às análises de psicrotróficos, 50% das amostras do Brasil e da Argentina, assim como 100% das amostras do Paraguai apresentaram-se fora dos padrões estabelecidos pela legislação.

With the aim to evaluate the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of UHT milk commercialized in three countries of Mercosul, samples of four different brands were acquired in each city (Foz do Iguaçu - Brazil, Puerto Iguazú - Argentina and Ciudad del Este - Paraguay) and submitted to the following analysis: fat content, titratable acidity, milk ethanol stability (with the following ethanol concentrations: 68, 72, 76 and 80%), total dry extract and no fat dry extract, pH, density and freezing point. Counts of mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms were already done. In the physico-chemical evaluation of UHT milk, a significant number of samples were in disagree with the established patterns for fat content, no fat dry extract, density and freezing point. Except one brand from Brazil, milk samples showed stability to 68% ethanol. pH averages of Brazilian milk were in agree with the patterns and highest values were observed in samples acquired on Paraguay. Observing the microbiological analysis, 37.5%, 62.5% and 12.5% of samples acquired from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, respectively, showed counts above the established patterns for mesophilic microorganisms. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were in disagree with the established patterns in 50%, 50% and 100% of samples from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, respectively.

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Los alimentos listos para su consumo (ALC) son alimentos procesados que pueden consumirse sin ningún tratamiento térmico adicional, lo que ha incrementado su popularidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la inocuidad y calidad microbiológica de 90 ALC producidos por pequeñas industrias costarricenses, con el fin de evaluar el riesgo para la salud pública. Se analizaron 26 encurtidos, 18 aderezos, 18 ensaladas, 12 dulces en conserva y 16 antipastos. A cada muestra se le determinó el pH y la presencia por cultivo de indicadores de calidad microbiológica y de patógenos (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, C. botulinum y Bacillus cereus); además, se investigó por PCR la presencia de genes que codifican por las toxinas de C. botulinum y C. perfringens. Un 37% de las muestras tuvo un nivel de acidez que podría permitir la proliferación de patógenos (pH >4.5). En general, los indicadores de vida útil fueron aceptables, siempre y cuando los ALC se mantengan en condiciones de temperatura y humedad adecuadas. Un 64% de las muestras presentó valores de coliformes totales que sugieren mala higiene en su elaboración (NMP/g >1000), que se confirma con el hallazgo de coliformes fecales en el 56% y que las hace inaceptables para el consumo humano. Todos los cultivos para patógenos fueron negativos, excepto cuatro para B. cereus. No se detectaron toxinas de C. botulinum y solo una muestra fue positiva para el PCR de C. perfringens. Este estudio evidencia una importante contaminación fecal en ALC, una situación indeseable y totalmente prevenible si se practican técnicas adecuadas de manejo de alimentos, de higiene y se presta mayor atención a los puntos críticos de control.

Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are processed foodstuffs which have gained popularity in recent times because they can be ingested without further thermic treatments. In this work, the microbiological quality and safety of 90 samples of RTE foods manufactured by small Costa Rican industries was determined to evaluate whether they represent a Public Health risk. Twenty-six samples of pickled vegetables, 18 dips, 18 salads, and 12 sweet treats were studied. Each sample was analyzed with regard to its pH, the presence of culturable microbiological quality indicators and recognized foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, C. botulinum, and Bacillus cereus) Selected genes encoding toxins of C. botulinum and C. perfringens were screened by PCR. Thirty-seven percent of the samples had a level of acidity that could allow the growth and proliferation of bacterial pathogens (pH >4.5). The shelf-life indicators were acceptable but only if the RTE foods are kept at adequate conditions of temperature and humidity. Sixty-four percent of the RTE foods had total coliforms values that evidence inadequate hygiene practices during its elaboration (MPN/g >1000). This result was confirmed by the finding of fecal coliforms in 56 % of the samples, which, by the way, are inacceptable for human consumption. All cultures for pathogens were negative, except for 4 samples that contained B. cereus. Toxins of C. botulinum were not detected and one single sample was positive for the PCR for C. perfringens. The elevated degree of fecal contamination detected in the RTE could be prevented by means of good manufacturing practices, better hygiene measures and a deeper attention to critical control points.

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With the aim to evaluate the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of UHT milk commercialized in three countries of Mercosul, samples of four different brands were acquired in each city (Foz do Iguaçu-Brazil, Puerto Iguazú-Argentina and Ciudad del Este-Paraguay) and submitted to the following analysis: fat content, titratable acidity, milk ethanol stability (with the following ethanol concentrations: 68, 72, 76 and 80%), total dry extract and no fat dry extract, pH, density and freezing point. Counts of mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms were already done. In the physico-chemical evaluation of UHT milk, a significant number of samples were in disagree with the established patterns for fat content, no fat dry extract, density and freezing point. Except one brand from Brazil, milk samples showed stability to 68% ethanol. pH averages of Brazilian milk were in agree with the patterns and highest values were observed in samples acquired on Paraguay. Observing the microbiological analysis, 37.5%, 62.5% and 12.5% of samples acquired from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, respectively, showed counts above the established patterns for mesophilic microorganisms. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were in disagree with the established patterns in 50%, 50% and 100% of samples from Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, respectively.

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Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are processed foodstuffs which have gained popularity in recent times because they can be ingested without further thermic treatments. In this work, the microbiological quality and safety of 90 samples of RTE foods manufactured by small Costa Rican industries was determined to evaluate whether they represent a Public Health risk. Twenty-six samples of pickled vegetables, 18 dips, 18 salads, and 12 sweet treats were studied. Each sample was analyzed with regard to its pH, the presence of culturable microbiological quality indicators and recognized foodborne pathogens (Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes. Clostridium perfringens, C. botulinum, and Bacillus cereus) Selected genes encoding toxins of C. botulinum and C. perfringens were screened by PCR. Thirty-seven percent of the samples had a level of acidity that could allow the growth and proliferation of bacterial pathogens (pH > or = 4.5). The shelf-life indicators were acceptable but only if the RTE foods are kept at adequate conditions of temperature and humidity. Sixty-four percent of the RTE foods had total coliforms values that evidence inadequate hygiene practices during its elaboration (MPN/g >1000). This result was confirmed by the finding of fecal coliforms in 56% of the samples, which, by the way, are inacceptable for human consumption. All cultures for pathogens were negative, except for 4 samples that contained B. cereus. Toxins of C. botulinum were not detected and one single sample was positive for the PCR for C. perfringens. The elevated degree of fecal contamination detected in the RTE could be prevented by means of good manufacturing practices, better hygiene measures and a deeper attention to critical control points.

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