Hygienic condition of home made foods sold in Alexandria markets

A total of 100 homemade food samples shown for sale in some supermarkets in Alexandria was examined to investigate their hygienic conditions. The food samples included vegetable products [20 samples] and bakery products [32 samples]. All food samples were subjected to external examination, chemical examination and microbiological analysis. The results showed that all vegetable and bakery products had production dates on the labels. The expiry dates were mentioned in 93.0% of the total samples. Also, 91.0% of the total samples were packaged in polyethylene. In addition, 72.0% of the total samples had a storage temperature of < -16 to < -12C, whereas 28.0% were stored at >/ -11C. There was a significant difference in pH and moisture content of each of vegetable, meat and bakery products. The highest mean pH was 5.58 +/- 0.43 for meat products, while vegetable products had the lowest pH [4.96 +/- 0.61]. Moisture content was 57.96% +/- 6.67 in vegetable products and was lower in meat products [54.61% +/- 10.90]. There was a significant difference in the aerobic plate count and in the presence of coagulase and DNAse positive staphylococci of the meat product samples. While, a significant difference was observed in coliform and fecal coliform presence of bakery product samples

Evaluation of the hygienic conditions of street vended food in Alexandria

Preparation and sale of street foods is an old and almost universal activity in developing countries. This activity has reached new dimensions as a result of rapid urbanization. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the safety of street foods in Alexandria through a sanitation check-list. Results revealed that the highest score of sanitation was found for location [51.14 +/- 24.23], equipment and utensils [38.67 +/- 12.08], then carts or stands [36.33 +/- 26.24], the least score was found for food [25.71 +/- 18.7]. The scores of the 4 parameters [location, food handler, equipment and utensils, and carts or stands] were significantly higher than the food score [F = 8.73, P <0.05]. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the carts or stand score was the only significant factor affecting food score. The most critical problems found in the studied carts were the lack of adequate supply of potable water for cleaning and washing [11.76 +/- 31.82] as well as the available waste disposal [5.88 +/- 23.21]

Anoverall picture of food colours used in different foods

The world market for food colors is expanding at about 10% annually. Some coloring matters used in food can be considered as health hazards, especially if administered in large doses. Therefore, legal control over the use of food colors is essential. This is the best accomplished through the use of a permitted list which effectively prevents the addition of any new substances to foods until an adequate basis for judgment of their freedom from health hazard had been established, in addition to improved laboratory analysis of the quantity of color used in food. The results of the present study revealed that 130 samples of colored foods out of 256 samples examined [50.78%] contained no artificial colors and were considered natural. In the mean time, all the detected artificial water soluble colors were according to the permissible list. Of the food classes analyzed, no artificial colors were detected in canned juices, jams, tomato paste, pickling and yogurt. However, 10 samples of ice cream out of 28 examined contained artificial colors, although it is prohibited to add artificial color to this class of food. In case of confectionary, 54 out of 78 samples examined contained permissible artificial colors, and tartrazine was the most prevalent color detected in this class of food, which is mostly consumed by children

Residues of the pesticide selecron on apples and pears grown in Egypt

The present study was conducted to follow up residues of selecron on apples and pears after pesticides application on the plant, and to study the effect of washing on the reduction of pesticide residues. The initial deposits of selecron in apples were relatively higher than those in pears and persisted for more than 14 days in both of them, but was not detected after 21 days. The percent removal of the pesticide residues by washing was found to depend on the initial level of pesticide, being greater the higher the pesticide level, since residues remaining on crops after weathering are more difficult to remove by washing than those recently applied

Study on residues of pesticides in poultry and egg

Feeding Malathion to poultry at levels of 200 and 500 ppm resulted in the presence of residues ranging from 0.01 to 6.0 ppm in the different tissues and organs during the feeding period. On return to normal food, residues were detected only at level of 500 ppm after 6 days. Kidney and blood contained the highest concentration of malathion at both levels of feeding. Malathion residues in kidney exceeded the maximum permissible limit [4 ppm] after one of feeding at 500 ppm level. No other tissue or organ contained residues exceeding the permissible limits. Dimethoate feeding at levels of 25 and 60 ppm resulted in low concentration of residues [maximum 0.09 ppm] after 14 days of feeding. Malathion residues were detected in eggs up to 0.43 ppm however, no residues of dimethoate were detected in eggs

Effect of malathion and dimethoate on some biological parameters of laying hens

Pesticdes are indispensable for modern farming but a number of them have harmful effects on other non target organisms. The results of the present study revealed that malathion feeding to laying hens at levels of 200 ppm had no effect on food consumption, body weight egg production and egg weight. However liver and kidney of slaughtered hens increased in weight as a result of 500 ppm feeding level. On the other hand, dimethoate at 25 and 60 ppm feeding levels resulted in a pronounced decrease in food consumption, body weight and egg production. At level of 60 ppm feeding, liver and kidney increased in weight

influence of some disinfectants on Klebsiella organisms

The disinfectant effect of phenol, ditol, formalin, iodine watery solution, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol was tested by the suppression test against different Klebsiella biotypes. The bacteriostatic activity of the tested disinfectants was evaluated by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] in relation with the time of exposure

Mastitis in dairy buffaloes due to klebsiella pneumoniae and in association with other common causative organisms

Milk samples were collected from 37 clinically and 44 subclinically mastitic buffaloes at SAKHA localities for bacteriological examination. K. pneumoniae was isolated in pure cultures with incidence of 5.40% and 9.10% from clinically and subclinicaily mastitic buffaloes respectively, and in association with Strept. agalactiae, Strept. dysgalactiae and Candida albicans with incidence of 10.81% and 17.64% from clinical and subclinical cases respectively. Serological examination of the isolated K. pneumoniae strains from both types of mastitis revealed that capsular type 2 was most common [7 strains]. Type 4 was also found in milk of buffaloes associated with clinical and subclinical mastitis, while types 5 and 6 were associated only with subclinical mastitis. Candida albicans was isolated either in single infection or mixed infection of clinically and subclinically mastitic buffaloes with total incidence of 29.72 and 34.90% respectively. A variety of other common microorgansims were isolated from diseased samples like, Strept. agalactiae, Strept. dysgalactiae, Strept. pyogenes, Staph. aureus and haemolytic and non-haemolytic E. coli in their order of frequency. The public health aspects of isolated K. pneumoniae and Candida albicans from mastitic buffaloe milk have been thoroughly discussed. Gentamycin, kanamycin and neomycin were found to be highly effective against K. pneumonia and E. coli. All gram-positive isolates exhibited a high degree of sensitivity towards erythromycin, penicillin-G, tetracycline and amipicillin respectively, while Candida albicans was only sensitive to nystatin

Karish cheese, mech and pickles as vehicles of accidental intestinal myiasis

62 karish cheese, mesh, and pickles samples were collected from Alexandria markets. The samples were examined bacteriologically and parasitologically. The results of the study indicate that the total plate of karish showed an average of 17x10[6]. Coliforms were found in all samples with an average of 79x10[7]/100 gm. 60% were identified as Escherichia Coli. The pH average was 3.6. In mesh sample bacteriological examination was negative. Pickles samples showed that, pH average of 8.6 and total plate count average of 4.2x10[6] and coliforms average of 28x10[3]/100 gm. Eschrichia coli was isolated from all the samples. Karish cheese, mesh cheese and pickles were infested by larvae of P. casei, M. domestica and Calliphora spp. E.coli cyst was found in .15.4% of karish cheese, while E.histolytica cysts were in 16.5% in pickles samples

Evaluation of management training in food service establishments at Bahrain

Course of two days period was designed to present training to three groups of managers of food establishments at Bahrain. The objectives of this course were to increase the sanitation awareness and knowledge of each manager. Evaluation of the program was based on comparison of the pre and post training survey of 44 participating establishments, the comparison of the pre course and post course test, and on the personnel evaluation of the participants. The results of the pre and post training operations survey were compared and it indicates a decrease in number of establishments with the hazardous practice. From the comparison of pre and post course test, it is apparent that an improvement in sanitation knowledge of each manager has taken place. The mean improvement was 9.2 for the first class course [27 participants]. 14.8 in the second class course [9 participants], and16.5 for the third class course [8 participants]. All the participants termed the course was useful and interesting and will improve the service in their establishments. This evaluation indicates that, manager training program has strong potential for reducing food sanitation problems in restaurants

carrier rate of salmonella in apparently healthy slaughtered animals

The present study was undertaken to secure the following information: 1- The rate of recovery of salmonellae from different sites of the carcase. 2- The relative efficiency of the most common enrichment broth and selective agar used in Egyptian laboratories, for the isolation of salmonellae. 3- The effect of incubation temperature on the recovery of salmonellae from enrichment broth. 4- The carrier rate of salmonellae in apparently healthy slaughtered animals. 5- Screen the serotypes of salmonellae isolated. Samples were collected from 190 carcases of buffaloes, camels, sheep and pigs slaughtered at Cairo abattoir