Microbiological stability of canned tuna produced in Italy and in non-European countries

Submitted: 16 October 2014
Accepted: 4 February 2015
Published: 19 March 2015
Abstract Views: 2519
PDF: 1451
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The results of a study on the microbiological stability of canned tuna produced by Italian companies and similar canned products manufactured in countries outside Europe are reported herein. The study involved 38 samples of canned tuna of various brands, of which 14 were produced by companies outside Europe and 24 by Italian companies. Qualitative and quantitative microbiological tests were conducted for the following parameters: bacterial colony counts at 30°C, total coliforms, total Enterobacteriaceae, sulphite-reducing anaerobes, Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts and molds. Bacterial loads and mold contamination were respectivelyin found in 8/14 (57%) samples from outside EU and 7/24 (29%) Italian samples. The bacterial flora was represented by Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus lentus, Streptococcus mitis, Enterococcus faecalis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides), Gram-negative bacteria (Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Acinetobacter iwoffii, Rhizobium radiobacter), spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus vallismortis), while the fungal species was represented by Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp., Rhodotorula spp. and Alternaria spp. Excluding anomalies in the thermal treatment process of products and any contamination after treatment, the contaminations encountered in both cases were most likely due to insufficient production quality standards and the quality of the raw material used. These results may require a redefinition of the concept of commercial stability as hitherto stated.

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Supporting Agencies

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Francesco Casalinuovo, Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Southern Italy, Catanzaro
Director Unit Complex Food Hygiene Institute Zooprofilattico of the South Section of Catanzaro
Teresa Gazzotti, Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO)
Researcher at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna
Paola Rippa, Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Southern Italy, Catanzaro
Unit Complex Food Hygiene Institute Zooprofilattico of the South Section of Catanzaro

How to Cite

1.
Casalinuovo F, Gazzotti T, Rippa P, Ciambrone L, Musarella R, Pratticò E. Microbiological stability of canned tuna produced in Italy and in non-European countries. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2015 Mar. 19 [cited 2024 Dec. 3];4(1). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/ijfs.2015.4780

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