Comparison of the Microbial Quality of Ground Beef and Ground Beef Patties from Internet and Local Retail Markets

This study evaluated the microbial quality of ground beef and ground beef patties sold at local (Virginia) and Internet (U.S.) retail markets. A total of 152 ground beef products, consisting of locally purchased raw ground beef (LRG) and frozen beef patties (LFP) and Internet-procured frozen ground...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of food protection 2009-08, Vol.72 (8), p.1722-1726
Main Authors: Pao, S, Ettinger, M.R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aerobes
Animals
Bacteria, Aerobic - growth & development
Bacteria, Aerobic - isolation & purification
bacterial contamination
Beef
Cattle
coliform bacteria
Colony Count, Microbial
Commerce
Consumer Product Safety
E coli
Escherichia coli
Food contamination & poisoning
Food Contamination - analysis
Food irradiation
Food Microbiology
food pathogens
Food safety
Foodborne diseases
Frozen foods
Frozen Foods - microbiology
Frozen Foods - standards
Frozen ground
frozen meat
ground beef
hamburgers
Humans
Immunoassay
Internet
isolation
Laboratories
Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes
markets
Meat products
Meat Products - microbiology
Meat Products - standards
microbial load
microbiological quality
Pathogens
Product quality
psychrotrophic bacteria
Quality Control
retail marketing
Retail stores
Salmonella
Statistical analysis
United States
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Summary:This study evaluated the microbial quality of ground beef and ground beef patties sold at local (Virginia) and Internet (U.S.) retail markets. A total of 152 ground beef products, consisting of locally purchased raw ground beef (LRG) and frozen beef patties (LFP) and Internet-procured frozen ground beef (IFG) and frozen beef patties (IFP), were tested. Results showed that LFP had significantly lower levels of aerobic mesophiles, psychrotrophs, and coliforms than LRG, IFG, and IFP. Furthermore, IFG had greater numbers of Escherichia coli than LRG and LFP. No sample was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, but one duplicate set of summer LFP samples contained Salmonella. Listeria spp. were present in 25 and 29% of samples from local and Internet markets, respectively. About 5.0, 11.1, 10.5, and 7.9% of LRG, LFP, IFG, and IFP samples were contaminated with L. monocytogenes. This study identified differences in microbial quality between local and Internet products. Careful handling and thorough cooking of ground beef products, regardless of market source, are recommended to prevent foodborne illness.
ISSN:0362-028X
1944-9097
DOI:10.4315/0362-028x-72.8.1722