Delection of the E .C oli Presence with Compact Dry Method in Raw Sucuks Sold Primary School Canteens

Abstract

The aim o f the study was to detect E. Coli presence in raw sucuks sold in primary school canteens in Cankaya district o f Ankara, Turkey. Raw sucuk (Turkish sausage flavored with garlic) samples, which were collected from randomly selected 25 primary school canteens. All specimens were examined fo r E.coli with Compact Dry method which is ready to use method fo r the enumeration o f coliform bacteria microbiological analysis in raw and finished productsTwo pieces (min 50 g) o f sucuk samples were handled at same conditions at school canteens. Twenty five gram o f minced samples were diluted and homogenized with 125 mL o f sterilized distilled water. After waiting fo r 30 minutes lmL diluted sample inoculated onto the center o f the self-dijfusible medium. All samples were incubated fo r 24 hours at 35 °C. On the basis o f the presence or numbers o f Escherichia coli (blue colonies at medium) sucuks were categorized as acceptable, unacceptable and potentially hazardous. Sixteen percent o f sucuks were graded as unacceptable and potentially hazardous. According to this study it was shown that Compact Dry method is a rapid and safe technique fo r determining E.coli in fo o d samples. It can also be concluded that presence o f pathogenic microorganisms in raw sucuks can be a cause fo r fo o d borne illnesses at primary schools.