Prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in food raw materials used in REPFEDs manufactured in France

Int J Food Microbiol. 2004 Mar 1;91(2):141-5. doi: 10.1016/S0168-1605(03)00371-4.

Abstract

Food raw materials used in refrigerated processed foods of extended durability (REPFEDs) manufactured in France were surveyed for Clostridium botulinum types A, B and E using PCR-Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) and mouse bioassay for detection respectively of cells and toxins in enrichment broth. Portions of 25 to 50 g of food were analysed. A total of 8 out of the 102 samples of fish and shellfish, 12 out of the 143 samples of meat and poultry, 1 out of the 62 samples of aroma, sauce and gravy, 4 out of the 25 samples of thickening agents, 3 out of the 26 samples of dehydrated dairy ingredients, and none of the 65 samples of spices, herbs and dehydrated mushroom were positive for C. botulinum in PCR-ELISA, i.e., 6.6% of all the samples tested. The 28 positive samples comprised 10 type A, 10 type B, 4 with both types A and B, and 4 undetermined by PCR typing. No sample positive for type E was detected. Of the 28 samples positive in PCR-ELISA, 15 were also positive in the mouse bioassay. The MPN count was between 1 and 3 C. botulinum/kg of food, which is similar to or in the lower range of values reported in the literature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Clostridium botulinum / isolation & purification*
  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Food Handling / methods
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Food-Processing Industry / methods
  • Food-Processing Industry / standards*
  • France / epidemiology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence