Examining the ice creams offered for sale in İstanbul in terms of Listeria monocytogenes and Enterobacteriaceae existence

Today parallel to the rapid increase of the world's population, the food requirements of people have also increased. Together with the development of industrial production, demand to ready-made food consumption has increased. However the increase in ready-made food consumption threatens public health due to infections in ready-made foods concerning food. One of these foods is especially ice cream that is popular during summer season. Listeria monocytogenes and Enterobacteriaceae Spp. are bacteria that are included within pathogen group threaten human health. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the foodborne pathogens commonly seen in nature. During production by means of pasteurization Listeria monocytogenes is inhibited. In case of seen in food, it causes listeriosis in humans and some animals. Listeriosis result in meningitis, septicemia and spontaneous abortus in acute cases. Enterobacteriaceae Spp., is one of the components of human and animal gastrointestinal system flora. Septicemia in human causes health problems such as urinary system infections, cholecystitis, wound infections, gastroenteritis, and meningitis. In this study; ice creams belong to different companies offered for sale in Istanbul from production to sales are evaluated in terms of Listeria monocytogenes and Enterobacteriaceae Spp. amounts due to contamination and various transmissions by using VITEK-MS and Real-time PCR devices. Obtained results are compared to the values determined by Turkish Food Codex. Determined Listeria monocytogenes and Enterobacteriaceae is aimed to be evaluated in terms of public health and food safety. For the detection of Enterobactericeae Spp., bacteria detection is made via verification method. Enterobactericeae Spp. suspected isolate is detected within 35 samples among 70 samples working parallel to each other. Totally 20 of them are not conforming to the limit determined by Turkish Food Codex. The values found are between 300-66000 kob/g. Typology of 20 samples are made via VİTEK-MS device and both Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter asburiae types are seen within 7 samples. Klebsiella pneumoniae type is seen in one of them. For the determination of Listeria monocytogenes; according to VİTEK-MS typology results no L. monocytogenes is detected within 70 samples studied parallel; no isolates are determined as L. monocytogenes as a result of the analysis performed by following Real-time PCR kit procedure. However, 1 E. faecalis and 1 L. innocua are determined. In this study; it is determined that Enterobacteriaceae Spp. and Listeria monocytogenes content in some ice creams consumed by the public in their daily lives do not conform to the standards determined by Turkish Food Codex. It is determined that this condition shall threaten public health.