Microbiological quality of kebabs sold in Palermo and Messina

Aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of kebabs retailed in Palermo and Messina. Twenty raw and 22 cooked kebab samples were analysed to determine the aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), Enterobac teriaceae, Escherichia coli, sulphite reducing anaerobes, coagulase positive staphylococci, micrococci, Bacillus cereus and the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. In raw kebabs, AMB ranged from 4.00 to 7.34 log cfu/g and Enterobacteriaceae from 1.00 to 7.59 log cfu/g. Escherichia coli and sulphite reducing anaerobe counts were from <1.00 to 6.18 and 4 log cfu/g, respectively. Coagulase positive staphylococci ranged from <1.00 to 3.48 log cfu/g and micrococci from <1.00 to 6.00 log cfu/g. Listeria spp. was found in three raw kebab samples. In cooked kebabs, the AMB values ranged from 1.78 to 6.30 log cfu/g, Enterobacteriaceae from 1.00 to 4.00 log cfu/g and micrococci from <1.00 to 5.30 log cfu/g. Three samples were positive for Escherichia coli (from 1 to 1.30 log cfu/g) and one for sulphite reducing anaerobes (2.00 log cfu/g). Coagulase positive staphylococci were found in two samples with loads of 2.30 and 2.78 cfu/g, respectively. Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus were not isolated in raw and cooked samples. The results of this study show that the microbiological quality of kebabs sold in Palermo and Messina is quite variable. The authors stress the importance of selection of raw material of high quality as well as the control of cooking and storage temperatures in order to minimise bacterial potential hazards.