AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightAccording to the results of this study, Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 21 or 7% of the samples Listeria ivanovi was isolated from 15 or 5% of the samples and Listeria welshimeri/innocua was isolated from 2 or 0.6% of the samples collected from three factories.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
This study was performed to determine the presences of Listeria species in three fish processing factories in İzmir, Turkey. Gilt head seabream (Sparus aurata) has been processed in three factories and exported as frozen to other foreign countries. Listeria spp. expecially Listeria monocytogenes can be a point under consideration of fish processing factories while exporting. For this purpose; A total of 300 samples were examined for Listeria spp in three fish processing factories to determine the contamination levels of fish processing factories with Listeria spp. Samples were taken from units of fish processing factories such as (boxes, processing tables, floors) and equipments (processing coats, gloves) and also processed products (frozen fish). According to the results of this study, Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 21 or 7% of the samples Listeria ivanovi was isolated from 15 or 5% of the samples and Listeria welshimeri/innocua was isolated from 2 or 0.6% of the samples collected from three factories. Listeria welshimeri/innocua was only isolated from the processing coats (2 or 11%) in factory A. However, Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from boxes (1 or 6%), processing tables (2 or 11%), floor (4 or 22%), processing coats (3 or 17%), gloves (6 or 33%) and frozen fish (5 or 50%) samples taken from the factory C. Except for frozen fish, Listeria ivanovi was isolated from boxes (7 or 39 %), processing tables (3 or 17%), floor (3 or 17%), processing coats (1 or 6 %) and gloves (1 or 6%) taken from the factory B. The incidence of Listeria spe-cies in the production line of fish processing factories points out that contamination can occur during fish pro-cessing stage. Therefore, Listeria spp. must be con-trolled during processing of fishery products. Proper cleaning and sanitation programme of fish processing factories must be applied. Samples must be taken and examined regularly from every units and equipments of fish processing factories to avoid the contamination and spread of Listeria spp in fish processing factories. Cleaning of fish processing equipments and fish pro-cessing units could be very important in order to avoid the occurrence of cross contamination of the fishery products. It must be taken hygienic precautions because of the contamination of Listeria spp. Besides HACCP plan must be applied to prevent recontamination of Lis-teria species to fishery products and it must be also ap-plied to eradicate Listeria species from the fish pro-cessing factories.