Research Article

 

Effect of Ingredients on the Bacteriological Profile of Ready to Eat Meat Sandwiches

 

Mohamed A. Hussein*, Samar H. Mohamed, Ahmed E. Tharwat, Abd El-Salam E. Hafez, Reham A. Gomaa

Food Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.

 

Received | July 21, 2021; Accepted | August 08, 2021; Published | August 25, 2021

*Correspondence | Mohamed A. Hussein, Food Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt; Email: elged2010@yahoo.com

Citation | Hussein MA, Samar HM, Tharwat AE, Hafez AE, Gomaa RA (2021). Effect of ingredients on the bacteriological profile of ready to eat meat sandwiches. J. Anim. Health Prod. 9(s1): 69-75.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2021/9.s1.69.75

ISSN | 2308-2801

Copyright © 2021 Hussein et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The consumption of ready to eat (RTE) food has been associated with serious health problems of consumers all over the world (FDA, 2000). The incidence of foodborne illness globally increased, this may in part be attributed to a minimal heat treatment used in RTE food production as well as using of some seasoning such as vegetable salads and tahini sauce, which not subjected to heat treatment (Hussein et al., 2018). The aerobic plate count (APC) is an important factor for predication of microbial quality evaluation in food products and is an indicator of microbial contamination level in food production (Kim et al, 2018). Staphylococcus aureus origin food-borne illness reported as the third most important cause of disease in the world (Zhang et al., 1998). In United States, a few decades ago, S. aureus was responsible for 25% of all food-borne illnesses (Tamarapu et al., 2001). Presence of Bacillus cereus organisms is common in meat products, and due to their resistant endospores they may survive different treatments during food production. B.cereus counts in excess of 105–106/g have been encountered in food supposed of causing illness (Griffiths and Schraft, 2017). Nowadays, RTE meat products are the important part of the diet so the contamination and multiplication of B. cereus in RTE sandwiches is of concern as public health hazard. B. cereus is commonly associated with toxico-infection, as it induces both diarrheal and emetic types of food borne illness. Out of two, diarrheal type illness caused by enterotoxin (s), results in diarrhea, and the emetic type induces vomiting and nausea. Sometimes both types of symptoms are appeared probably due to the synergistic actions of one or more enterotoxin(s) (Jessberger et al., 2020).

 

The unsatisfactory microbiological quality of served RTE sandwiches considered as a big question facing the researchers and food inspection authorities in Egypt. After heat treatment of meat products, the addition of vegetable salad and tahini sauce, which not previously heated this, constitutes a biological hazard necessities marking with a critical control point. Washing fresh vegetables in chlorinated water (50–200 mg/L of active chlorine) reduce the levels of bacteria. Sodium hypochlorite is the most commonly used sanitizer in the fresh-cut industry (Lee and Baek, 2008). Garlic, a member of Alliaceae family has a high pungent flavor that improved with cooking. It has been used to combat infections such as cough, cold, diarrhea, asthma, flu, headache, sore throat, abdominal discomfort and respiratory tract infections (Chand, 2013).

 

The aim of this work is to improve the hygienic status and safety of the ready-to-eat sandwiches through improving the preparation steps of the green salad and tahini sauce. Thus, we aimed to explore the effects of chlorine water washing on vegetable salad and addition of garlic essential oil in tahini sauce, and ultimate effect of addition of these treated ingredients on the microbiological quality of RTE meat sandwiches.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Two hundred and forty samples of ready to eat meat sandwiches, vegetable salad, and tahini sauce were collected from a restaurant at Zagazig city, Egypt.

 

The work plane classified into four groups:

Group 1: Seventy samples ready to eat meat sandwich (liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma, and kofta), vegetable salad, and tahini sauce (10 of each). The sandwiches composed of main meat product with tahini sauce and vegetable salad without any modification.

 

Group 2: The contents of vegetable salad (Solanum lycopersicum, Cucumis sativus, Lactuca sativa, Capsicum annuum, Coriandrum sativum and Eruca sativa) were washed in for 10 minutes in sodium hypochlorite solution that provide 50 ppm chlorine. Then the vegetable cautiously cut and mixed and kept in a fridge at 4O C for two hours and used in sandwich preparation. Sixty samples obtained from ready to eat meat sandwich (liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma, kofta) and vegetable salad (10 of each). The sandwiches obtained after using of treated vegetable salads and no treatment in tahini sauce.

 

Group 3: The contents of tahini sauce (ground sesame seeds, lemon juice, garlic, and water) were heated at 80 ℃ for 3 minutes followed by rapid cooling with addition of 1% wt. volume garlic essential oil, then kept in a fridge at 4℃ kept for two hours and used in sandwich preparation. Sixty samples obtained from ready to eat meat sandwich (liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma, kofta) and tahini sauce (10 of each). The sandwiches obtained after using of treated tahini sauce and no treatment in vegetable salad.

 

Group 4: Fifty samples of ready to eat meat sandwich liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma, kofta (10 of each), obtained after using of treated of vegetable salads and treated tahini sauce.

 

The samples were prepared according to ISO 6887-2: (2003). Twenty five grams of each sandwiches core were homogenized aseptically for 1 min with 225 ml of 0.1 % peptone water in a stomacher (Colworth, 400) then serially diluted to 10-fold in the same diluent.

 

Enumeration of APC was done according to ISO 4833-1: (2013) using plate count agar (Oxoid, CM325). Bacillus cereus count was performed according to ISO 7932:(2004) using B. cereus selective agar base with egg yolk and polymyxin supplement media. B.cereus identified morphologically and biochemically according to Cowan and steel (1974). The S. aureus count was applied according to ISO 6888-1:(1999) using Baird Parker (BP) agar (Oxoid, CM275), supplemented with egg yolk tellurite emulsion (50 ml/L, Oxoid SR54) and incubated at 37ºC for 24-48 hrs.

 

Statistical Analysis

The obtained results were statistically evaluated by the application of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test according to Feldman et al. (2003).

 

RESULTS

 

Aerobic plate count (APC)

The APC in retail liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich, kofta sandwich, vegetable salad and tahini sauce were 5.58 ± 1.21, 6.13 ± 0.92, 6.18 ± 0.92, 6.27 ± 1.02, 6.54 ± 1.12, 7.32 ± 1.29 and 8.04 ± 1.12 log10CFU/g, respectively (group 1) (Table 1). After replacing of ordinary vegetable salad with that prepared by washing all ingredient in chlorinated water (50ppm) the counts reduced to 5.11 ± 0.31, 5.64 ± 0.26, 5.81 ± 0.17, 5.02 ± 0.19, 5.68 ± 0.31 and 4.26 ± 0. 41 log10CFU/g, in liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich, kofta sandwich and vegetable salad, respectively (group 2). Meanwhile, using of modified tahini sauce contained garlic essential oil reduce

 

Table 1: Aerobic plate count log10 CFU/g (Mean ± SD) of ready to eat meat sandwiches, vegetable salad and tahini sauce.

 

Samples	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4
Liver sandwiches	5.58 ± 1.21a	5.11 ± 0.31a	5.17 ± 0.29a	3.2 ± 0.22c
Beef burger sandwiches	6.13 ± 0.92a	5.64 ± 0.26b	5.74 ± 0.26ab	4.32 ± 0.31c
Sausage sandwiches	6.18 ± 0.92a	5.81 ± 0.17b	5.91 ± 0.34a	4.13 ± 0.32c
Shawarma sandwiches	6.27 ± 1.02a	5.02 ± 0.19b	5.38 ± 0.23b	3.9 ± 0.19c
Kofta sandwiches	6.54 ± 1.12a	5.68 ± 0.31b	5.81 ± 0.31b	4. 89 ± 0.31c
Vegetable salad	7.32 ± 1.29a	4.26 ± 0. 41b	-	-
Tahini sauce	8.04 ± 1.12a	-	3.98 ± 0.36b	-

The values given above are means of replicate values (n = 10 for each group)

Within rows, means with different superscript small letters are statistically significant (p<0.05).

Group 1: No treatment, group 2: added treated vegetable salad, group3: added treated tahini sauce, group 4: added treated vegetable salad and tahini sauce.

 

Table 2: Bacillus cereus log10 CFU/g (Mean ± SD) of ready to eat meat sandwiches, vegetable salad and tahini sauce.

 

Sandwiches	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4
Liver sandwiches	3.26 ± 0.13a	2.78 ± 0.13ab	2.42 ± 0.15b	<2c
Beef burger sandwiches	3.34 ± 0.15a	2.84 ± 0.11ab	2.27 ± 0.14b	2.31± 0.13b
Sausage sandwiches	2.98 ± 0.11a	2.79 ± 0.11a	2.14 ± 0.09b	<2c
Shawarma sandwiches	3.11 ± 0.13a	2.81 ± 0.13a	2.34 ± 0.12b	<2c
Kofta sandwiches	3.23 ± 0.22a	2.98 ± 0.11ab	2.85± 0.14b	2. 49 ± 0.09c
Vegetable salad	4.11 ± 0.19a	<2b	-	-
Tahini sauce	4.92 ± 0.26a	-	<2b	-

The values given above are means of replicate values (n = 10 for each group)

Within rows, means with different superscript small letters are statistically significant (p<0.05).

Group 1: No treatment, group 2: added treated vegetable salad, group3: added treated tahini sauce, group 4: added treated vegetable salad and tahini sauce.

 

Table 3: Staphylococcus aureus log10 CFU/g (Mean ± SD) of ready to eat meat sandwiches, vegetable salads and tahini sauce.

 

Sandwiches	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3	Group 4
Liver sandwiches	3.18 ± 0.15a	2.34 ± 0.14b	2.38 ± 0.17b	<2c
Beef burger sandwiches	3.74 ± 0.11a	3.39 ± 0.12ab	2.49 ± 0.15b	2.87± 0.18b
Sausage sandwiches	3.42 ± 0.17a	2.91 ± 0.11b	2.82 ± 0.13b	2.3± 0.15c
Shawarma sandwiches	3.85 ± 0.13a	2.83 ± 0.09b	2.75 ± 0.11b	<2c
Kofta sandwiches	3.65 ± 0.18a	3.45 ± 0.16ab	2.48 ± 0.12b	2. 34 ± 0.17b
Vegetable salad	4.11 ± 0.19a	<2b	-	-
Tahini sauce	4.92 ± 0.26a	-	<2b	-

The values given above are means of replicate values (n = 10 for each group)

Within rows, means with different superscript small letters are statistically significant (p<0.05).

Group 1: No treatment, group 2: added treated vegetable salad, group3: added treated tahini sauce, group 4: added treated vegetable salad and tahini sauce.

 

the counts to 5.17 ± 0.29, 5.74 ± 0.26, 5.91 ± 0.34, 5.38 ± 0.23, 5.81 ± 0.31, 3.98 ± 0.36 log10CFU/g, in liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich, kofta sandwich and tahini sauce, respectively (group 3). Significant reductions in APC count in all sandwiches (p< 0.05) after using of treated vegetable salad and tahini sauce (group 4).

 

Bacillus cereus count

The presented data in Figure 1A and Table 2 showed the percentage incidence and CFU counts of B. cereus in sandwiches i.e., 50% (3.26 ± 0.13), 60% (3.34 ± 0.15), 70% (2.98 ± 0.11), 70% (3.11 ± 0.13) and 80% (3.23 ± 0.22), respectively in liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich, and kofta sandwich (in group 1). The incidence and count of B.cereus was reduced after treatment of salad (in group 2) to 30% (2.78 ± 0.13), 60% (2.84 ± 0.11), 50% (2.79 ± 0.11), 60% (2.81 ± 0.13) and 70% (2.98 ± 0.11) log10CFU/g. Meanwhile, it became 20% (2.42 ± 0.15), 40% (2.27 ± 0.14), 20% (2.14 ± 0.09), 40% (2.34 ± 0.12) and 40% (2.85± 0.14) log10CFU/g in liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich, and kofta sandwiches, respectively (in group 3) tahini sauce treated. Moreover, both treatments of vegetable salad and tahini sauce reduced B.cereus incidence to undetectable levels in liver sandwich, sausage sandwich, and shawarma sandwich (group 4).

 

Staphylococcus aureus count

The presented data in Figure 1B and Table 3 showed the percentage incidence and CFU counts of S.aureus in sandwiches. It showed counts of 60% (3.18 ± 0.15), 70% (3.74 ± 0.11), 60% (3.42 ± 0.17), 70% (3.85 ± 0.13) and 70% (3.65 ± 0.18), respectively in liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma and kofta in (group1). The incidence and count of S.aureus was reduced after treatment of salad (group2) to 30% (2.34 ± 0.14), 40% (3.39 ± 0.12), 30% (2.91 ± 0.11), 30% (2.83 ± 0.09) and 40% (3.45 ± 0.16) log10CFU/g. Meanwhile, it became 50% (2.38 ± 0.17), 70% (2.49 ± 0.15), 40% (2.82 ± 0.13), 60% (2.75 ± 0.11) and 70% (2.48 ± 0.12) log10CFU/g in liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich and kofta sandwich, respectively in tahini sauce treated group (group 3). Moreover, both treatments of vegetable salad and tahini sauce reduced S.aureus incidence to undetectable levels in liver and sausage (group 4).

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The APC is important in food microbiology as an indicator of the microbiological quality as well as a measure of sanitation used during the handling of a food (Ray, 2004). APC determines counts of the non-fastidious aerobic bacteria. In some foods, high APC may indicate poor quality. Higher bacterial numbers spoil the food faster and result in loss of quality. Food which appears normal may have high APC, indicating that the food is about to spoil. The recommended reference value for the APC of RTE sandwiches was indicated to be < 5 log CFU/g (CFS, 2014). In this study, the mean APC of retail liver sandwich, beef burger sandwich, sausage sandwich, shawarma sandwich, kofta sandwich, vegetable salad and tahini sauce (group1) were exceeded 5 log10 CFU/g (Table 1). Thus, indicate unacceptability of all sandwiches (group1). Vegetable salad considered as a source of contamination in sandwiches. In previous studies, Mensah et al. (2002) found APC of 6.3 ± 0.78 log10 CFU/g in salads retailed on the streets of Accra. As well, Christison et al. (2008) also reported high APC in salads. Vegetables had APC of 6.3–6.8 log10 CFU/ g (Nyenje et al., 2012) in South Africa. Saddik et al. (1985) reported 6.69 log10 CFU/ g on vegetable samples in Egypt, while in Taiwan, it was reported as 3.30–8.64 log10 CFU/ g (Fang et al., 2003). Furthermore, Vural and Erkan (2008) found 6.43 to 7.63 log10 CFU /g in Turkey.

 

Using of sodium hypocholrite at a concentration 50 ppm in wash water used for salad ingredients for 10 minutes significantly decrease the APC load in processed salad from 7.32 ± 1.29 (group 1) to 4.26 ± 0. 41log10 CFU/g. Moreover, APC reduced in all sandwiches, which formulated after treatment of salad (group 2). Allende et al. (2009) studied the effect of sodium hypochlorite on APC for 1 min, reported a 1–1.3 log CFU/g reduction. Gao et al. (2017) used chlorine in washing water of Coriandrum sativum for 15 minutes and reported APC reduced from 7 to 3.2 log10CFU/g.

 

Tahini sauce usually prepared at the beginning of the day and used whole day in sandwiches without further heat treatment, thus could have bacterial growth. In current study, tahini sauce proved to have contamination with APC. A previous study (El-Sherbeeny et al., 1985) reported slightly low count (7.5 log10CFU/g) as compared to our current investigation (8.04 ± 1.12 log10CFU/g). Application through heating at 80 ℃ followed by rapid cooling, then keeping in refrigerator at 4℃ significantly decrease (p< 0.05) APC in tahini sauce and all examined RTE sandwiches (group 3). Using of suitable heat treatments such as pasteurization reduces the levels of vegetative microorganisms in foods in addition to keeping refrigerated minimize post-process contamination.

 

Neither treatment of vegetable salad (group 2) nor tahini sauce (group 3) have ability to introduce the sandwiches to the acceptable level below 5 log10CFU/g. Application of both treatments (group 4) have a highly significant decrease in APC. This emphasizes the capacity of additives as a clear source of contamination with APC. Thus, it is important to control the initial level of ingredients contamination, which used to prepare RTE sandwiches.

 

The presented data in Figure1 showed that Bacillus cereus detected by examining sandwiches with percentages of 50%, 60%, 70%, 70% and 80%, respectively in liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma and kofta (group 1). Schlegelova et al. (2003) found 28% of meat samples positive for B. cereus. Willayat et al. (2007) and Das et al. (2009) found 23.5 % and 36.7 % contamination level of B. cereus, respectively. This variation might be because hygienic practices followed in different localities in meat shops and restaurants.

 

In this study, the incidence of B.cereus was reduced after treatment of salad (group 2) to 30%, 60%, 50%, 60% and 70%. Meanwhile, it became 20%, 40%, 20%, 40% and 40% in liver, beef burger, sausage, shawarma and kofta sandwiches, respectively in tahini sauce treated group. Moreover, both treatments of vegetable salad and tahini sauce reduced B.cereus incidence to undetectable levels in liver, sausage, and shawarma (group 4). The counts of B.cereus in untreated (group1) were nearly similar (0.69 to 4.8 log10CFU/g) and (2-3.2 log10CFU/g) detected in Turkey by Güven et al. (2006) and Büyükyörük et al. (2014), respectively. There were no significant differences between the vegetable salad treated (group2) and untreated (group 1). This declared that vegetable salad not the common source of B.cereus. Meanwhile, significant decrease (p< 0.05) in count of B.cereus observed in tahini sauce treated (group 3). This finding proved that the source of B. cereus was tahini sauce due to multiplication of these organisms in the food when stored for extended times at temperatures above 8oC. Application of both treatments (group 4) completely inhibit the presence of B.cereus in liver, sausage and shawerma, meanwhile detected in beef burger and kofta due to the spices included in meat product. These findings coincide with Little et al. (2003) who detected B. cereus in 33.3% of spice and spice ingredients, contained more than 4 log10CFU/g.

 

The potential dangers from long-term storage and inappropriate temperature controls need to be emphasized given the requirement for B.cereus to grow in sufficient numbers to produce a toxin to cause food poisoning (Berthold-Pluta et al., 2015). Application of heat treatments during manufacturing of tahini sauce, followed by rapid cooling absolutely inactivate vegetative cells of B.cereus. However, the spores can survive this treatment and cause, after subsequent germination, food intoxication.

 

S.aureus and their association with foodborne intoxication has been a global public health concern. In the present study, S.aureus detected up to 70% of collected RTE sandwiches have clearly demonstrated that RTE sandwiches are contaminated either through meat samples or at different stages of preparation (Todd et al., 2007). A lower prevalence of S.aureus (8.3%) was reported in sandwiches collected from Jordon (Nimri et al., 2014). In a study conducted on commonly consumed fast foods in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, S.aureus detected in 44% and 18% of shawarma and burger, respectively (Al-Shabib et al., 2017).

 

Therefore, it can be assumed that RTE sandwiches are susceptible towards S.aureus contamination. The presence of S. aureus in the food samples tested in this study indicates improper handling and possible cross-contamination (Preedy, 2005). This microorganism not only plays an important role in foodborne diseases in the United States but in Taiwan as well S.aureus is the second most commonly found foodborne pathogen (Fang et al., 2003).

 

Dipping of green salad components in chlorine at a concentration of 50 ppm for 10 minutes reduced S.aureus count to < 2 log10 CFU/g of examined vegetable salad, moreover significant reduction in S.aureus count for examined liver, sausage and shawarma sandwiches (group 2). The effect of chlorine previously studied in Korea on lettuce at a concentration 50 ppm, which result in reduction in S. aureus count from 3.89 to 1.63 log10 CFU/g (Lee et al., 2009).

 

Using of essential garlic oil at concentration 1% reduced S.aureus count from 4.92 ± 0.26 CFUlog10/g to < 2 in tahini sauce samples. Furthermore, S.aureus count significantly reduced in all examined sandwiches (group 3). The sensitivity of S. aureus was extensively studied. Kyung et al. (2002) reported that allicin of garlic essential oil showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus. The activity of garlic improved with in temperature up to 80oC (Roy et al., 2006). Both treatment of vegetable salads and tahini sauce reduce S.aureus counts significantly (group 4), thus declared that contamination level of RTE sandwiches need to be controlled in order to protect the consumer health.

 

CONCLUSION

 

Using chlorine in washing water of vegetables before preparing the vegetable salad and the addition of garlic oil to tahini sauce reduced the bacterial counts. Using this treated vegetable salad and tahini sauce in meat sandwiches has resulted in a significantly low bacterial count thus increase the safety margin for the consumer.

 

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

 

All authors contributed equally.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare.

 

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