Microbiological Evaluation of Selected Delicatessen Meats from Retail Supermarkets 1.

ABSTRACT

Roast beef, turkey breast, pastrami, corned beef and pickle and pimento loaf were obtained from delicatessens in eight Gainesville (FL) supermarkets. A total of 80 samples were analyzed for total aerobic counts (APC at 35 and 20 C), yeasts and molds, fecal streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus , Clostridium peifringens , total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella . No Salmonella was recovered from any samples and only one sample contained C. peifringens . S. aureus was recovered from 12.5% of the samples at levels less than 1 log/g and E. coli was found in 11.3% of the samples. All samples contained fecal streptococci and 73.8% contained coliforms. APCs (35 C) were highest in corned beef and pastrami samples with mean counts of 6.75 and 6.91 logs/g, respectively; roast beef samples had lowest APCs with a mean count of 4.84 logs/g. High APCs and coliform counts in many samples indicate a need for improved sanitation procedures at the processor and retail levels.