@article{article_968356, title={Determination of microbiological characteristics of several kinds of ready-to-eat meals presented for consumption}, journal={Türk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi}, volume={72}, pages={199–208}, year={2015}, author={Şenses -ergül, Şule and Sarı, Havva and Ertaş, Sevinç and Berberoğlu, Umut and Cesaretli, Yıldırım and Irmak, Hasan}, keywords={Gıda, gıda kaynaklı enfeksiyon, patojen bakteri, mikrobiyoloji, hijyen}, abstract={Objective: In this study, determination of microbiological quality of several kinds of ready-to-eat meals and their risk in means of foodborne infections, were aimed. Method: Total of 666 ready-to-eat meals available for consumption, were examined. These products were examined in means of the parameters; Salmonella spp. TS EN ISO 6579 , Listeria monocytogenes TS EN ISO 11290-1 , Escherichia coli O157 TS EN ISO 16654 , thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. TS EN ISO 10272 , Bacillus cereus TS EN ISO 7932 , coagulase positive staphylococci TS EN ISO 6888-1 , sulfite reducing anaerobic bacteria ISO 15253 , E. coli Bacteriological Analytical Manual , molds-yeasts TS EN ISO 21527- 1 ve 21527-2 and staphylococcal enterotoxin 3M Tecra parametres as it was stated in Regulation on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. Results: 612 92% of the investigated ready-toeat meals were found in accordance with the food safety criteria and limits of pathogenic microorganisms mentioned in the Regulation, while 54 of them 8% were found unsuitable for consumption. In none of the samples Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157 and thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. were not detected. In the study, number of the ready-to-eat meals which were not complying the limits specified in the regulations in terms of B. cereus 1 x 103 - 5.7 x 104 cfu/g was 30. The number of ready to eat meals which were above limits for E. coli 1.5 x 101 - >1.1 x 103 MPN/g , staphylococcal enterotoxin and sulphite reducing anaerobic bacteria 1.6 x 103 - >3 x 104 cfu/g , were found as; 14, 6 and 5, respectively. While one sample was found unsuitable for consumption in means of coagulase positive staphylococci 4 x 103 cfu/g , another sample was found unsuitable for consumption in means of total mold and yeast counts 2.6 x 104 cfu/g . Conclusion: According to the data obtained in this study, microbiological quality of the ready-to-eat meals were found mostly good. The meals which were found unsuitable for consumption in means of the parameters not complying the limits showed differences depending on the kind of the food sample. In this study, it was found that ready-to-eat meals served after reheating carry risk in means of B. cereus, staphylococcal enterotoxin and sulphite reducing anaerobic bacteria parameters. Additionally, cold meals like salads, apetizers and cooked bakery products were found to carry risk in terms of the parameters; E. coli and coagulase positive staphylococci.}, number={3}, publisher={T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü}