Ice cream is a frozen dairy dessert consumed worldwide. The frozen state may give a positive impression regarding microbiological safety; however, transmission of foodborne pathogens can also occur through ice cream consumption. A total of 200 samples of milk-based industrial ice cream, with and without inclusions, were purchased at different mass-market retailers in Italy and analyzed for the detection and enumeration of the aerobic colonies, Enterobacteriaceae, coagulase-positive staphylococci, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Results were classified according to different ranges of acceptability, whose limits were set for each microbiological parameter. Unsatisfactory loads were obtained for two and nine samples as regarded the aerobic colonies and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively. L. monocytogenes was detected in 16 samples, and in three of them, the loads exceeded the legal limit of acceptability (≤100 cfu/g) during marketing. No unsatisfactory loads were obtained for coagulase-positive staphylococci and no Salmonella spp. was detected. The results obtained allow speculation that inclusions may be a relevant source of contamination for industrial ice cream. However, inadequate manufacturing and hygiene practices also threaten the safety of the finished product. Ice cream is a complex food matrix, and a comprehensive approach to the whole production system is required to ensure high standards of quality and safety.

Microbial Risk Assessment of Industrial Ice Cream Marketed in Italy / L. Nalbone, L. Vallone, F. Giarratana, G. Virgone, F. Lamberta, S.M. Marotta, G. Donato, A. Giuffrida, G. Ziino. - In: APPLIED SCIENCES. - ISSN 2076-3417. - 12:1988(2022), pp. 1-10. [10.3390/app12041988]

Microbial Risk Assessment of Industrial Ice Cream Marketed in Italy

L. Vallone
Secondo
;
2022

Abstract

Ice cream is a frozen dairy dessert consumed worldwide. The frozen state may give a positive impression regarding microbiological safety; however, transmission of foodborne pathogens can also occur through ice cream consumption. A total of 200 samples of milk-based industrial ice cream, with and without inclusions, were purchased at different mass-market retailers in Italy and analyzed for the detection and enumeration of the aerobic colonies, Enterobacteriaceae, coagulase-positive staphylococci, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Results were classified according to different ranges of acceptability, whose limits were set for each microbiological parameter. Unsatisfactory loads were obtained for two and nine samples as regarded the aerobic colonies and Enterobacteriaceae, respectively. L. monocytogenes was detected in 16 samples, and in three of them, the loads exceeded the legal limit of acceptability (≤100 cfu/g) during marketing. No unsatisfactory loads were obtained for coagulase-positive staphylococci and no Salmonella spp. was detected. The results obtained allow speculation that inclusions may be a relevant source of contamination for industrial ice cream. However, inadequate manufacturing and hygiene practices also threaten the safety of the finished product. Ice cream is a complex food matrix, and a comprehensive approach to the whole production system is required to ensure high standards of quality and safety.
frozen dessert; inclusion; topping; candy pieces; bakery pieces; fruit pieces; manufacturing practice; hygiene practice; foodborne pathogens; Listeria monocytogenes
Settore VET/04 - Ispezione degli Alimenti di Origine Animale
2022
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/909750
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