Mycological evaluation of imported frozen meat

ABSTRACT

A total of 100 random samples of imported frozen boneless beef meat of different cuts were collected from different Alexandria markets. The samples were transferred in an insulated ice box to the laboratory with minimum time of delay under aseptic condition, where they were examined mycologically. The results revealed the isolation of Aspergillus species, Penicillium species, Cladosporium species, Rhizopus species, Mucor species, Alternaria species, Trichoderma species, Helminthosporium species, Phialophora species, Geotrichum species, Fusarium species and other fungi species from the examined samples. Also, the results revealed the isolation of some yeast species as Candida species, Torulopsis species and Rhodotorulla species. The obtained results showed that the imported frozen meat can be contaminated with yeast and mould due to inadequate hygienic measurements during loading, disloading, handling, preparation and processing from the time of slaughtering till reaching to the consumer