Microbiological Quality of Some Meat Products in Local Markets with Special Reference to Mycotoxins

3 Abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the microbial quality of meat products sold in local markets at Cairo and Giza provinces and to investigate their hygienic significance. Samples were subjected to mycological, bacteriological, aflatoxin B (AFB ), analysis for evaluation their quality and safety. The incidence of mould 11 and yeast in the examined meat product samples were 16 (64%), 22 (88%), 23(92%), 7(28%), 22(88%) and 5 (20%) for Frankfurter, Luncheon and Basterma respectively. In the examined samples, 7 mould genera could be identified. The identified mould genera were Aspergillus, Pencicillium, Eupencillium, Eurotium, Mucor, Cladosporium and Byssochlamys nivea. The predominant species were Aspergillus, Penicillium and Mucor. While the identified yeast genera in the examined frankfurter samples were; C. parapsilosis 7(50.0%), Rhodotorula mucilaosagin 3(21.4%), C. krusei 2 (14.3%) and Geotrichum candidum 2 (14.3%). The frequencies of isolated yeast genera in examined luncheon samples were; C. krusei and C. parapsilosis 5 (38.5%), Rhodotorula mucilaosagin 2 (15.4%) and Torulopsis species 1 (7.6%).While in basterma samples the frequencies were; C. parapsilosis 8 (38.1%), Torulopsis species 8 (38.1%) and C. tropicalis 5 (23.8%). The obtained results of AFB in examined samples revealed that 5 (20%) samples of luncheon contain aflatoxin B1 1 minimum 1.3, maximum 24.5 and average ± SE 10.4± 5.1ppb, while the value of aflatoxin B1 in Basterma samples minimum 1.2, 2.5 and average ± SE 2.3± o.4 ppb. Aflatoxin B was not detected in Frankfurter examined samples. 1 Bacteriological analysis revealed that the incidences of S. aureus and Cl. perfringens were 28 and 20 % in Frankfurter samples, while in Luncheon were 32 and 32%, respectively. In Basterma samples the incidence represented in 40 and 24% for S. aureus and Cl. Perfringens respectively. 7 and 8 strains of S. aureus isolated from frankfurter samples and Luncheon were examined against enterotoxins production and typing and the results showed that 2 and 1 strains are enterotoxigenic and produce enterotoxins C. type.