[Listeria monocytogenes in vegetables minimally processed]. 2002

María Luisa de Curtis, and Olgamar Franceschi, and Norma De Castro
Universidad Central de Venezuela, Facultad de Farmacia, Caracas-Venezuela.

The demand of vegetables minimally processed (ready-to-use) has increased partly due to the frequent use of the food services, where the salads are always included in the daily menus. The use of new technologies for processing and packaging has made possible to obtain a product ready to serve. Nevertheless the associated risk of the presence of emergent pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes seems to be involved. The aim of this work was to assess the microbiological quality of this kind of food. 120 samples of vegetables minimally processed ready-to-use were analyzed for their content of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms and E. coli, and the presence of Shigella spp. Vibrio cholerae and Listeria monocytogenes. The TECRA UNIQUE LISTERIA, the BCM Listeria monocytogenes and the API LISTERIA systems, and the methods of molecular detection AccuProbe and GENE-TRAK were used for isolation and identification. E. coli was detected in approximately 30.3% of the vegetables used in this study. The genus Listeria was evidenced in 25% of the samples; 30% corresponded to L. monocytogenes. Shigella spp and Vibrio cholerae were not isolated. The findings of this study suggest the need of the microbiological control of the vegetables minimally processed ready-to-use to assure their quality and safety.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008089 Listeria monocytogenes A species of gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. It has been isolated from sewage, soil, silage, and from feces of healthy animals and man. Infection with this bacterium leads to encephalitis, meningitis, endocarditis, and abortion.
D011786 Quality Control A system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in a product or process by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Control, Quality,Controls, Quality,Quality Controls
D005511 Food Handling Any aspect of the operations in the preparation, processing, transport, storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure for sale, service, or delivery of food. Food Processing,Handling, Food,Processing, Food
D005516 Food Microbiology The presence of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in food and food products. This term is not restricted to pathogenic organisms: the presence of various non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi in cheeses and wines, for example, is included in this concept. Microbiology, Food
D006092 Gram-Negative Facultatively Anaerobic Rods A large group of facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that show up as pink (negative) when treated by the gram-staining method. Gram Negative Facultatively Anaerobic Rods
D014675 Vegetables A food group comprised of EDIBLE PLANTS or their parts. Vegetable
D014687 Venezuela A country in northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, located between Colombia and Guyana.

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