Microbial Quality of Popular Locally Processed Meats Sold in Retail Outlets in Trinidad, West Indies

Abstract

A total of 480 samples of locally produced processed meats, including chicken franks, chicken bologna, and bacon from brands A and B, was collected from 8 supermarkets across the island of Trinidad over a 1-year period and subjected to a range of microbiological analyses. The results showed that 54.2, 0.4, and 1.7% of the samples exceeded recommended limits for aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Listeria spp. were detected in 19.4% of samples, whereas L. monocytogenes was present at a prevalence rate of 7.5%. Brand A products had lower microbiological quality, accounting for 100% of samples positive for L. monocytogenes, E. coli, and S. aureus; and 75% for Listeria spp. and coliforms. Bacon was the product that most frequently exceeded microbiological limits, and accounted for 100% of samples positive for E. coli, 83.3% for L. monocytogenes, 72% for Listeria spp., 62.5% for S. aureus, and 61.9% for coliforms.