Determination of microbiological contamination sources during ice cream production in Denizli, Turkey

Ice cream is a food commodity consumed widely during summer. The aim of this research is to determine the microbiological contamination sources during ice cream production. The samples were collected from four different pastry shops in Denizli area in Turkey. Samples were taken for microbial analyses from six points (premix, fresh ice cream, sold ice cream, ice cream cabinet, firming dish, scoop water and the hands of factory and sales department personnel). The results showed that premix had low levels of coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) and yeast and mould. The levels of these microorganisms wore higher in the fresh ice cream than their corresponding premixes. Moreover, sold ice cream had the highest levels of all microorganism groups. The samples taken from ice cream cabinet and firming dishes contained low levels of TAMB and yeast-mould but no coliform, faecal coliform or S. aureus. On the contrary, high levels of coliforms, faecal coliform and S. aureus, TAMB and yeast-mould were found in the samples collected from factory/sales department personnel hands and scoop water. Overall results showed that cooling method, personnel hands and scoop water were the main sources of the microbial contamination of ice cream produced and sold in pastry shops. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.