Undeclared animal species in dry and wet novel and hydrolyzed protein diets for dogs and cats detected by microarray analysis

Abstract Background Although the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) stated that labels must be accurate and provide detailed information on the ingredients, mislabeling of pet food has been documented by several authors. This phenomenon is of particular concern when related to products used as elimination diets for the diagnosis of adverse food reaction (AFR) in dogs and cats because the presence of undeclared ingredients may negatively interfere with the trial and prevent the veterinarian from making an appropriate diagnosis. The aim of this study was to shed light upon the problem of contamination and mislabeling in both dry and wet novel protein diets (NPDs) and hydrolyzed protein diets (HPDs) using a microarray-based commercial kit which tests for the presence of 19 animal species. Results Of the 40 analyzed products (9 dry NPDs, 22 wet NPDs, 6 dry HPDs and 3 wet HPDs), ten presented a content that correctly matched the label, while five did not contain the declared animal species, twenty-three revealed the presence of undeclared animal species, and two had a vague label that did not allow the evaluation of its accuracy. The most frequently contaminants identified in both dry and wet pet foods were pork, chicken and turkey. The presence of undeclared animal species was higher in dry than wet pet foods; furthermore, a lower number of contaminating animal species was identified in HPDs than NPDs (4 vs 10), and a lower number of contaminated HPDs (6 out of 9, 67%) than contaminated NPDs was detected (24 out of 31, 77%). Thirteen out of 14 brands tested presented at least one mislabeled product. Conclusions Mislabeling seems to be a widespread issue in pet foods used as elimination diets. Contamination can occur in all types of products used for the purpose, although dry NPDs are the main issue. Due to the high risk of contamination, particular attention should be given to both the selection of raw material suppliers and the production process

Fecal carriage of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and carcass contamination in cattle at slaughter in northern Italy

Feedlot cattle slaughtered at a large abattoir in northern Italy during 2002 were examined for intestinal carriage and carcass contamination with Escherichia coli O157:H7. Carcass samples were taken following the excision method described in the Decision 471/2001/EC, and fecal material was taken from the colon of the calves after evisceration. Bacteria were isolated and identified according to the MFLP-80 and MFLP-90 procedures (Food Directorate’s Health Canada’s). Eighty-eight non-sorbitol-fermenting E. coli O157:H7 isolates were obtained from 12 of the 45 calves examined. In particular, E. coli O157:H7 isolates were found in 11 (24%) fecal and five (11%) carcass samples. PCR analysis showed that all 11 fecal samples and five carcass samples carried eae-γ1-positive E. coli O157:H7 isolates. In addition, genes encoding Shigatoxins were detected in O157:H7 isolates from nine and two of those 11 fecal and five carcasses, respectively. A representative group of 32 E. coli O157:H7 isolates was analyzed by phage typing and DNA macrorestriction fragment analysis (PFGE). Five phage types (PT8, PT32v, PT32, PT54, and PT not typable) and seven (I–VII) distinct restriction patterns of similarity > 85% were detected. Up to three different O157:H7 strains in an individual fecal sample and up to four from the same animal could be isolated. These findings provide evidence of the epidemiological importance of subtyping more than one isolate from the same sample. Phage typing together with PFGE proved to be very useful tools to detect cross-contamination among carcasses and should therefore be included in HACCP programs at abattoirs. The results showed that the same PFGE-phage type E. coli O157:H7 profile was detected in the fecal and carcass samples from an animal, and also in two more carcasses corresponding to two animals slaughtered the same day. [Int Microbiol 2007; 10(2):109-116

Analisi molecolare dei ceppi di Staphylococcus aureus isolati nel latte crudo

Dottorato di ricerca in metodologie analitiche nella tecnologia alimentare e nell'ispezione dei prodotti alimentari di origine animale. 13. ciclo. Coordinatore e tutore R. RosminiConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - Piazza Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Biofilm microbici e igiene degli alimenti parte prima

Questo lavoro mira a chiarire gli aspetti essenziali dei biofilm microbici nell\u2019ottica di una corretta igiene degli alimenti

Biofilm microbici e igiene degli alimenti parte seconda

Questo lavoro mira a chiarire gli aspetti essenziali dei biofilm microbici nell\u2019ottica di una corretta igiene degli alimenti

UN CASO DI NUOVA ALTERAZIONE CROMATICA DELLA RICOTTA

A new alteration of ricotta cheese is here described. The discoloration which has been noted was red. The responsible bacteria has been identified as Serratia marcescens. This is probably the first report of this rare type of spoilage identified in Italy

Quantificazione di Campylobacter spp. sulla cute di broiler macellati

Campylobacter spp. are bacterial pathogens associated with human gastroenteritis worldwide. In Europe, campylobacteriosis is one of the leading food-borne bacterial diseases and the consumption of poultry meats is suspected to be one of the major causes of illness. The aim of our research was to determine the number of Campylobacter spp. in poultry carcasses and in poultry meat samples during their storage till to retail markets. The study was conducted from February 2009 to February 2010 at slaughterhouse in Veneto region, followed by a test of fresh poultry meat placed on the market for sale. A total of 90 poultry carcass and 90 samples of poultry meat were examined. The quantitative examination resulted in Campylobacter spp. counts (mean): for carcasses between 2,0 19101 ufc/g and 1,5 19103 ufc/g (4,2 19102) and poultry meat between 2,0 19101 ufc/g and 3,7 19102 ufc/g (8,1 19101). The majority of isolates were classified as Campylobacter jejuni (58,3%), Campylobacter coli (22,9%) or Arcobacter cryaerophilus (4,2%)

SURVEY ON THE HYGIENIC QUALITY OF CHINESE CATERING IN ITALY

We analyzed 118 samples of various Chinese dishes and preparations picked up from restaurants had showed a total viable count (TVC) higher than 6 log CFU/g (of which 8 salads) and 19% of samples had values > 500 CFU/g of faecal coliforms (p106 CFU/g or ml and was mainly formed by alophilic Gram positive cocci (Micrococcus and Staphylococcus), lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus spp. and sulphite-reducing clostridia. No strains of L. monocytogenes, enterotoxigenic B. cereus or S. aureus were isolated, whereas in one sample (oyster sauce) a strain of Salmonella spp. has been found. No significative evidence of contamination with heavy metals was noticed in sauces and pastes, whereas in one sample (anchovy sauce) we detected 0,61 ppm of Hg, that is just above the legal limit, according to the European rules legal. The results of our study indicate that there are some handling practices in the manufacture of foods that require more attention. Most importantly, an appropriate hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) system, should be developed to enhance food safety