European Academic Research ISSN 2286-4822
ISSN-L 2286-4822
Impact Factor: 3.4546 (UIF)
DRJI Value : 5.9 (B+)
Article Details :
Article Name :
Evaluation of the microbial parameters and hygiene status of dairy establishments in Tirana region
Author Name :
ILIRIAN POSTOLI1, FATMIRA SHEHU
Publisher :
Bridge Center
Article URL :
Abstract :
The most effective way to achieve food safety is to focus on prevention of possible hazards and to improve the process. Microorganisms in the milk processing plants environments may be found in the atmosphere (airborne), on food contact surfaces and/or employees hands. Airborne microorganisms from food handlers and in food products and raw materials (as part of bioaerosols) have in the past been implicated as having a potential to cause adverse health effects (especially in indoor environments) and therefore also to have economic implications. Recently their effect on food safety has received increased interest. The recent international interest in bioaerosols in the food industry has played a role in rapidly providing increased understanding of bioaerosols and their effects in different food processing environments. However, there is still a lack of research on the actual impact of bioaerosols over time in most of milk processing plants and the food premises in Albania. Also, special attention should be paid to hygienic testing of contact surfaces and employees hands, as possible ways of contaminating the product. Through this study, during a period of 12 months (from January to December 2016), we tested 24 environmental samples in 4 milk processing establishments in Tirana Region: 80 air samples, 80 contact surface and 80 from employees hands. Two methods for air sampling were used (impaction technique and sedimentation technique) and 2 methods for sampling surfaces and employees hands (contact slide and PRO-Clean test). The results demonstrated a poor hygienic situation in the samples being analyzed. For all the processing areas in the dairy plant, the numbers of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds obtained by air samprer MAS-100 NT® were higher than 90 CFU m-3, and according to culture settling plate technique higher than 30 CFU.cm-2, the maximum value recommended by APHA’s standard. Analysis of the Contact slide from employees hands revealed 5/80 positive sample for enumeration Enterobacteriaceae and 14/80 samples with higher total viable count. While the analysis of the contact slide from contact surfaces detected 17/80 samples positive for Enterobacteriaceae and 13/80 samples with higher total viable count. The swab samples (Protein Residue Test) taken from employees hands and contact surfaces, detected inadequate sanitary procedures during the phase of milk processing.
Keywords :
Dairy plant, air, PRO-Clean, employees hands, Contact slide
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