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Duthoo E, Krings S, Daube G, Leroy F, Taminiau B, Heyndrickx M, DE Reu K. Monitoring of Hygiene in Institutional Kitchens in Belgium. J Food Prot 2020; 83:305-314. [PMID: 31961228 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-19-202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Microbiological contamination of food during preparation and storage is a risk factor in institutional kitchens. In this Belgian study, hygiene practices in 40 institutional kitchens from four public sectors (10 hospitals, 10 schools, 10 retirement homes, and 10 child care centers) were evaluated to determine whether differences in these practices exist between these sectors. Contamination levels were also analyzed at several critical contact points. A data collection instrument and microbiological analysis of hand contact surfaces, food contact surfaces, and kitchen utensils were used. Hand washing resulted in only a slight reduction in total aerobic bacteria counts (TACs), and all microorganisms evaluated except E. coli were still present at countable levels. Enterobacteriaceae were found on one-third of the cleaned cutting boards. Cleaned work surfaces had the highest average TAC of all cleaned surfaces. Only slight improvements in TACs and Enterobacteriaceae and B. cereus counts were observed between used and cleaned work surfaces. The results from the data collection instrument revealed that child care centers had the lowest hygiene scores, whereas the other three sectors were fairly similar, with hospitals scoring highest. The low hygiene score for the child care centers was verified by comparing the results for cleaned surfaces among the sectors. The average TAC on surfaces was highest for child care centers and lowest for hospitals. Child care centers also had the second highest total mean counts and the highest number of total surface samples positive for Enterobacteriaceae. The highest number of surface samples positive for Staphylococcus aureus was also found in child care centers. This study highlights some areas of concern for hygiene improvement in institutional kitchens, differences between public sectors, and similarities in conclusions about hygiene based on the scores from the survey instrument and the results of the microbiological analyses. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- E Duthoo
- Technology and Food Science Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9090 Melle, Belgium
| | - S Krings
- Department of Food Science-Microbiology, FARAH Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2 (B43b), Avenue de Cureghem 10, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - G Daube
- Department of Food Science-Microbiology, FARAH Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2 (B43b), Avenue de Cureghem 10, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - F Leroy
- Research Group of Industrial Microbiology and Food Biotechnology (IMDO), Department of Applied Biological Sciences and Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - B Taminiau
- Department of Food Science-Microbiology, FARAH Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2 (B43b), Avenue de Cureghem 10, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - M Heyndrickx
- Technology and Food Science Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9090 Melle, Belgium.,Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - K DE Reu
- Technology and Food Science Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), 9090 Melle, Belgium
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