Microbial quality of retail mayonnaise-base salads

The purpose of this study was to determine the microbiological quality of retail mayonnaise-based salads samples. A total of 432 samples were collected between 1 February 2008 and 31 July 2009 in Ankara. In the present study, pH values of the samples were measured in the range of 4.05-7.10 (average pH=5.69). The samples with pH higher than 4.6 (n=236/432, 54.6 %) were carried out for microbiological analysis. In the present study, the samples were analysed for the presence of total aerobic bacteria (TAB), Esherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. According to microbiological analysis, TAB was detected in 210 of 236 (89.4 %) retail mayonnaise based salads (range: 1.1x10 2 -2.910 6 cfu/g). E.coli, Salmonella and S. aureus were detected in 143 (60.6.%) of 236 samples each, with a range of 1.310 2 -3.610 4 cfu/g, 2.410 2 -7.110 4 cfu/g (62 samples, 26.3%) and 1.810 2 -8.310 3 cfu/g (41 samples, 17.40%), respectively. The results indicate that the type of mayonnaise based salads analysed may contain pathogenic bacteria and thereby represent a risk to the consumers in regard to foodborne diseases. Thus, it is essential to include the effective hygiene practices as an important safety measure in the production of mayonnaisebased salads.