Pesquisa de Listeria spp. em áreas de processamento em estabelecimentos varejista de alimentos no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

The aimed of this study was to isolate and identify Listeria spp. in processing areas of retail food stores in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. For this study we collected 86 swabs samples from equipment, fixtures and facilities used for meat products processing, distributed in ten retail food stores. For the identification of Listeria spp. was used the 3M™ quick method, Quick Swab and 3M™ Petrifilm. The confirmation of Listeria monocytogenes was performed by the technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction in Real Time (qPCR). In the stores was made a checklist to assess the hygienic-sanitation conditions of the collection points. Of the 86 samples analyzed, 27 (31.2%) [I.C. 21.81 to 42.30%] were positive for Listeria spp. and of these, one (3.7%) for Listeria monocytogenes. The major points of contamination were the floor (50.0%), polyethylene plate (42.9%) and knife (40.0%). It was observed that of the ten stores analyzed, eight (80%) had at least one positive sample for Listeria spp. When analyzing the association between the hygienic-sanitation conditions of the collection points and microbiological analysis, we found no significant difference (p = 0.700). Based on these results it is concluded that the Listeria spp. is widely distributed in the areas that was studied, which may favor the food contamination and therefore present a risk for public health. Thus, it is recommended that microbiological parameters should be set by health regulatory agencies for meat and its meat products in order to provide a safe food for consumers.