Hygiene and Safety in the Meat Processing Environment from Butcher Shops: Microbiological Contamination and Listeria monocytogenes

Quality and Safety of Fresh Beef in Retail: A Review

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to review the scientific literature on the quality and safety of beef sold in retail, methodologies used for quality evaluation, and proposed interventions for the sector. Bibliographical research was performed to identify scientific articles using the electronic databases Ovid, PubMed, Scielo, LILACS, Scopus, and Embase. Thirty-three articles were included in the review. Given the different dimensions of the studies, the results were organized into three categories, according to the following approaches: food, environment, and handlers; consumers and selection criteria; and intervention strategies for the retail sector. The applied methodological strategies revealed inadequate conditions and neglect in several processing and operation stages that are fundamental to the maintenance of quality standards. The results confirm a worrying scenario and the presence of risks to consumers. Based on the studies evaluated, it is necessary to emphasize consumer concern about the importance of the integrated information chain-all stages involved in the production process and meat distribution for retail meat stores. The reported conditions from different studies indicate the need for interventions with a view to prevention of health risks, continued training of food handlers, and transformation of evidenced realities. In this context, it is possible to point out the predominance of diagnostic studies, in contrast with interventional studies focused on the training and qualification of food handlers.

HIGHLIGHTS

Trade and safety issues of raw beef from the countryside of Bahia state, Brazil

Background: Brazil is one of the world's largest meat exporters. However, there is a paradox in this situation due to existing non-inspected meat trade and technical-sanitary failures in retail marketing. Design and methods: This study aimed at characterizing the issues of trade, food safety and quality of raw beef in the street market of a municipality in the state of Bahia. An exploratory, quantitative and census study was carried out, at 17 raw beef vending locations. A questionnaire was administered and meat samples were collected (n=34), which were submitted to a physicochemical assessment, color analysis and microbiological analyses. Results: Meat sellers were between 20 and 64 years of age, predominantly males (82.4%), with limited education and without professional training (64.7%). Medians for temperature and pH in the small butcher shops samples were 18.10ºC and 5.75 respectively, and 21.80ºC and 5.50, in small supermarkets samples. The difference in pH was significant (p<0.05). The filtration test suggested quality changes in 17.65% of the samples. No frauds were detected. Total coliform count medians were 4.90 and 4.78 log CFU/g, for the samples taken from butcher shops and supermarkets, respectively. E. coli was identified in approximately 40.0% of the samples. Salmonella spp. were confirmed in two samples collected in the butcher shops. There was a significant association between inadequate storage conditions and microorganism counts (p<0.02). Conclusions: The results evidenced a meat supply with preservation failures and non-compliance with hygiene requirements, constituting a consumers' health hazard, not in line with an agroexporting country model.

Listeria monocytogenes From Farm to Fork in a Brazilian Pork Production Chain

ABSTRACT

Listeria monocytogenes contamination was assessed in different steps of a pork production chain. Ten lots of pigs were sampled at termination barns, at slaughter (after bleeding, after buckling, after evisceration, and after final washing), at processing (knives, deboning tables, and employees' hands), and of end products (ribs, shoulder, ham, and sausage). All samples (n = 670) were subjected to L. monocytogenes detection, and the obtained isolates (n = 18, identified as Listeria spp.) were characterized by their biochemical characteristics, serogroups, virulence genes, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles, antibiotic resistances (ampicillin, penicillin, gentamicin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim), and adhesion abilities. The results revealed the low occurrence of Listeria spp. in the evaluated pork production chain. However, four tested sausage samples (40%) were positive for Listeria spp., with L. monocytogenes identified in two (20%) of these samples. Ten isolates were identified as L. monocytogenes (eight from serogroup 1/2a or 3a and two from serogroup 4b, 4d, or 4e): all isolates were also positive for the virulence-related genes hlyA, iap, plcA, actA, inlA, inlB, inlC, and inlJ and susceptible to the tested antibiotics. One sausage sample was contaminated by both serogroups 1/2a or 3a and 4b, 4d, or 4e. Isolates from serogroup 1/2a or 3a obtained during visits 5 and 6 presented distinct genetic profiles by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, indicating that contamination may come from different sources. The adhesion potential exhibited by Listeria spp. isolates (n = 18) ranged from weak (serogroup 4b, 4d, or 4e) to moderate (L. innocua and L. monocytogenes serogroup 1/2a or 3a). Despite the low occurrence of L. monocytogenes, pathogenic serogroups were detected in sausages, demanding control measures by the industry.

HIGHLIGHTS

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in imported beef cattle in Jordan

This study characterized Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and E. coli O157:H7 by collecting rectoanal mucosal swabs and fecal samples from 518 imported beef cattle at Jordan's major abattoir. A unique 53 L. monocytogenes, 287 S. enterica, and 17 E. coli O157:H7 were isolated from 37, 120 and 9 different animals; respectively. The prevalence of S. enterica, L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were 23.2 % (95 % CI, 19.7-27.0 %), 7.1 % (95 % CI, 5.2-9.7 %) and 1.7 % (95 % CI, 0.9-3.3 %); respectively. All L. monocytogenes, all E. coli O157:H7 and 93.0 % of S. enterica isolates resisted at least one antimicrobial class. All L. monocytogenes, 94.1 % of E. coli O157:H7 and 69.7 % of S. enterica isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (resistant to ≥3 antimicrobials classes). Moreover, high percentages of L. monocytogenes (98.1 %), E. coli O157:H7 (64.7 %) and S. enterica (45.3 %) isolates resisted ≥5 antimicrobial classes. More than 90 % of the L. monocytogenes isolates resisted ampicillin, penicillin and erythromycin and more than 75 % resisted vancomycin. S. enterica isolates resisted several treatment-of-choice antimicrobials such as nalidixic acid (85.4 %), ciprofloxacin (26.8 %) and ceftriaxone (19.5 %). Furthermore, greater than 50 % of the E. coli O157:H7 isolates resisted streptomycin, nalidixic acid, tetracycline, ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, kanamycin, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. The high prevalence and the high resistance percentages of the studied pathogens toward clinically important antimicrobials is alarming. Thus, applying strict sanitation procedures at the abattoirs in Jordan is crucial to lower the risk of carcasses contamination.

Simultaneous circulation of arboviruses and other congenital infections in pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Arboviruses (Zika, dengue and chikungunya) represent a major risk for pregnant women, especially because their vertical transmission can lead to neurological damage in newborns. Early diagnosis can be difficult due to similar clinical presentation with other congenital infections that are associated with congenital abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the circulation of arboviruses and other pathogens responsible for congenital infections, reporting clinical aspects and geographic distribution of maternal rash in a metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with pregnant women presenting rash attended at the Exanthematic Diseases Unit (Niterói, Rio de Janeiro) from 2015 to 2018. Diagnosis of arboviruses was performed by real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and laboratorial screening for syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and HIV was assessed. Demographic data was used for georeferencing analysis.

FINDINGS

We included 121 pregnant women, of whom Zika virus was detected in 45 cases (37.2%), chikungunya in 33 (27.3%) and dengue in one (0.8%). Five patients presented syphilis, and we observed one case each of listeria, cytomegalovirus, and a syphilis-toxoplasmosis case. Similarity of clinical symptoms was observed in all groups; however, 84.8% of patients with chikungunya presented arthralgia. Following the decline of Zika cases, chikungunya infection was mostly observed during 2017-2018. Considering pregnant women infected with arboviruses and other infections, 41% resided in urban slums, mostly in Niterói.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous circulation of arboviruses and other agents responsible for congenital infections were observed; however, we did not identify co-infections between arboviruses. In this scenario, we emphasize the importance of adequate prenatal care to provide an accurate diagnosis of maternal rash.

Contamination Level of Hygiene Indicator and Prevalence of Foodborne Pathogens in Retail Beef in Parallel with Market Factor

In this study, the contamination levels of hygienic indicators and foodborne pathogens in retail meat products were investigated in relation to the various market factors including processing temperature, processing area, and market type. Ground beef samples (n=80) were purchased from 40 meat markets and investigated for microbiological quality. Beefs processed below 20℃ had significantly lower numbers of total coliforms (TC) than these processed over 20℃ (2.01 vs. 2.79 log CFU/g; p<0.05). Interestingly, separation of processing area did not affect the contamination levels. Remarkably, the contamination levels of hygienic indicator differ among market types, indicating that not only processing condition but distribution structure that is directly related with storage period could affect the final microbiological loads of the meat products. In addition, the prevalences of Listeria monocytogenes (a psychrotroph), Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis were 7.5% (6/80), 10.0% (8/80), and 20.0% (16/80), respectively, which is irrelevant to market factors except meat products from wholesale markets where no L. monocytogenes were found among 30 samples. The results of this study indicate that the contamination level of hygiene indicator and foodborne pathogens in retail beef is more related with processing temperature and storage period than other environmental factors.

Meat and fiber intake and interaction with pattern recognition receptors (TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR10) in relation to colorectal cancer in a Danish prospective, case-cohort study

Background

Meat and dietary fiber are associated with increased and decreased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), respectively. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) regulate the intestinal immune response in a complex interplay between the mucosal epithelium and the microbiota and may therefore be important modulators of diet-induced CRC together with other inflammatory mediators.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate the association between functional TLR polymorphisms and risk of CRC and the interaction with dietary factors. Additionally, interactions with previously studied polymorphisms in IL10, IL1B, PTGS2, and NFKB1 were assessed in order to examine possible biological pathways in meat-induced CRC.

Design

A nested case-cohort study of 897 CRC cases and 1689 randomly selected participants from the Danish prospective "Diet, Cancer and Health" study encompassing 57,053 persons was performed using Cox proportional hazard models and the likelihood ratio test.

Results

We found associations between polymorphisms in TLR2 (P = 0.018) and TLR4 (P = 0.044) and risk of CRC per se, interactions between intake of red and processed meat (10 g/d) and polymorphisms in TLR1 (P-interaction = 0.032) and TLR10 (P-interaction = 0.026 and 0.036), and intake of cereals (50 g/d) and TLR4 (P-interaction = 0.044) in relation to risk of CRC. Intake of red and processed meat also interacted with combinations of polymorphisms in TLR1 and TLR10 and polymorphisms in NFKB1, IL10, IL1B, and PTGS2 (P-interaction; TLR1/rs4833095 × PTGS2/rs20417 = 0.021, TLR10/rs11096955 × IL10/rs3024505 = 0.047, TLR10/rs11096955 × PTGS2/rs20417 = 0.017, TLR10/rs4129009 × NFKB1/rs28362491 = 0.027, TLR10/rs4129009 × IL1B/rs4848306 = 0.020, TLR10/rs4129009 × IL1B/rs1143623 = 0.021, TLR10/rs4129009 × PTGS2/rs20417 = 0.027), whereas intake of dietary fiber (10 g/d) interacted with combinations of polymorphisms in TLR4, IL10, and PTGS2 (P-interaction; TLR4/rs1554973 × IL10/rs3024505 = 0.0012, TLR4/rs1554973 × PTGS2/rs20417 = 0.0041, TLR4/rs1554973 × PTGS2/rs5275 = 0.0064).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that meat intake may activate TLRs at the epithelial surface, leading to CRC via inflammation by nuclear transcription factor-κB-initiated transcription of inflammatory genes, whereas intake of fiber may protect against CRC via TLR4-mediated secretion of interleukin-10 and cyclooxygenase-2. Our results should be replicated in other prospective cohorts with well-characterized participants. The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03250637.