北京市售鸡肉和猪肉中大肠杆菌污染情况及耐药特征分析

目的 分析北京市售生鸡肉和生猪肉中大肠杆菌的污染情况以及耐药表型及耐药基因型。方法 从北京市辖6个区的大型超市和农贸市场随机采集259份生鲜肉类样品（鸡肉168份、猪肉91份）,增菌后分离大肠杆菌,并使用基质辅助激光解吸电离-飞行时间质谱和16 s rRNA测序对分离菌株进行鉴定。对分离菌株进行药物敏感性测定和全基因组测序,对耐药基因和耐药表型进行比较分析。结果 从259份样品中分离出169株大肠杆菌,检出率为65.25%,其中鸡肉和猪肉中大肠杆菌的检出率分别为77.38%和42.86%。药敏试验结果表明大肠杆菌对甲氧苄氨嘧啶-磺胺甲恶唑（鸡肉83.33%,猪肉91.67%）高度耐药,其次是多西环素（鸡肉32.35%,猪肉38.89%）,同时,它们对庆大霉素、妥布霉素、头孢噻肟、黏菌素等药物都呈现出了不同程度的耐药性。耐药基因分析发现β-内酰胺类基因ampC1与ampC2携带水平最高,检出率分别为93.10%、98.28%,另外也检测到ESBL、NDM-1、mcr-1等重要耐药基因,其中bla_TEM-1D和blaCTX-M_-9是主要存在的ESBL耐药基因。结论 目前北京市售鸡肉存在较为严重的大肠杆菌污染,分离菌株呈现复杂的耐药表型并携带多样的耐药基因,应加强对生鲜肉类样品的微生物污染和细菌耐药性控制,尤其是产ESBL耐药大肠杆菌,为预防控制由其引起的食源性疾病提供科学依据。     

成都周边某奶牛养殖场及市售生鲜牛肉中产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌监测与分析

目的 通过连续3年监测成都周边某奶牛养殖场犊牛和成年牛粪便、饲养环境及菜市场和超市生鲜牛肉中的产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌（STEC）,了解本地区牛及牛肉中STEC菌株的携带及菌株特征情况,为评估该地区STEC污染状况、感染风险及防控策略提供科学依据。方法 采用荧光定量PCR法分离鉴定STEC,采用微量肉汤稀释法进行药敏试验。分离株全基因组测序后在EnteroBase数据库上获得MLST型别、菌株类型、血清型、毒力基因信息,使用Abricate软件比对得到stx亚型信息。用BioNumerics 7.6软件进行cgMLST聚类分析。结果 2019—2021年共采集奶牛养殖场牛粪和环境样品247份,25份检出STEC,检出率10.12%;采集生鲜牛肉294份,32份检出STEC,检出率10.88%;共分离到57株STEC。检出STEC菌株对氨苄西林耐药率最高,达42.11%（24/57）,其次为头孢噻肟和头孢唑啉（均占比38.60%,22/57）。多重耐药株占35.09%（20/57）。57株STEC共分离出30种血清型,其中可引起暴发的血清型有：O26：H11、O103：H25、O145：H12。通过毒力基因分析发现具有致病风险的亚型有：stx2a、stx2c、stx2d、stx2e、stx2g以及stx2k;及与疾病的严重程度密切相关eae-STEC及STEC/ETEC杂合株。结论 2019—2021年奶牛养殖场牛粪便和菜市场生鲜牛肉中STEC的污染持续存在。犊牛粪便检出率（21.43%）高于成年牛粪便检出率（0.91%）。菜市场生鲜牛肉STEC检出率高于超市。牛粪便中分离菌株比牛肉中分离菌株耐药情况严重。部分分离菌株因携带强毒力基因或其他致病相关基因而具有更强致病性。     

台州市售婴幼儿谷类辅助食品中克罗诺杆菌污染特征分析

目的 了解台州市售婴幼儿谷类辅助食品中克罗诺杆菌的污染状况、分子分型特征和耐药性。方法 参照GB 4789.40—2016对样品进行定性和定量检测，分离到的菌株进行脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分型和微量肉汤稀释法药敏试验。结果 335份样品中分离到41株克罗诺杆菌，总检出率为12.2%；41份阳性样品定量结果为0.36~7.5 MPN/100 g；食用方式上烹煮类样品检出率最高（46.9%），购买途径上网购样品检出率最高（24.0%）；41株菌株PFGE聚类分析被分为34个带型，相似度为45.1%~100.0%，从同一厂家不同种类样品和不同厂家样品中均有检出同一克隆株；菌株对头孢唑啉和呋喃妥因的敏感率仅为48.8%和39.0%，其中9株同时对这两种抗生素不敏感。结论 台州市售婴幼儿谷类辅助食品存在克罗诺杆菌的污染，应关注烹煮类和网购类食品导致婴幼儿感染克罗诺杆菌的风险。     

石家庄市零售鸡肉样品中弓形杆菌污染调查

目的调查石家庄市零售鸡肉中弓形杆菌的污染情况,为石家庄市弓形杆菌分布特征和防控提供基础数据支持。方法从石家庄市市内四区的菜市场、超市、连锁肉店随机购买零售鸡肉样品90份,应用驱动增强动力双孔滤膜法从样品中分离培养弓形杆菌,利用弓形杆菌多重聚合酶链式反应(PCR)检测及测序的方法对分离菌株进行种属鉴定,利用16S rDNA、rpoB基因测序的方法验证菌种鉴定结果。结果 90份鸡肉样品中,60份样品检出弓形杆菌86株,其中嗜低温弓形杆菌49株、布氏弓形杆菌37株,弓形杆菌检出率为66.67%(60/90)。60份阳性样品中,嗜低温弓形杆菌阳性样品45份(75.00%),布氏弓形杆菌阳性样品35份(58.33%)。嗜低温弓形杆菌和布氏弓形杆菌混合感染阳性样品20份,占比为22.22%(20/90)。不同采样点弓形杆菌检出率有较大差异。结论石家庄市零售鸡肉中弓形杆菌污染较重,嗜低温弓形杆菌污染率高于布氏弓形杆菌,两种弓形杆菌混合污染样品率较高。     

温州市食品中小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌分布及分子分型研究

目的 了解温州市食品中小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌的分子分型及分布特征。方法 4 ℃增菌后用选择性培养基对食品中的小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌进行分离鉴定,分析阳性菌株的生物型、血清型、毒力基因型、耐药性和脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分子型别。结果 采集6类食品,共676份样品,其中68份样品检出69株小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌,检出率为10.1%（68/676）。调理肉制品检出率最高（20.5%,9/44）,其次为速冻食品（17.2%,11/64）。95.7%（66/69）的分离株为生物1A型,生物血清型以1A/O∶5（29.0%）为主,其次为1A/O∶8（14.5%）;88.4%（61/69）的菌株仅携带ystB基因,检出1株4/O∶3型菌株携带毒力基因ail、ystA、yadA、virF。分离株对14种抗菌药物的敏感率达到94%以上。32株血清已分型菌株,分为29种PFGE带型。结论 温州市食品中存在一定程度的小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌污染,且检出致病性小肠结肠炎耶尔森菌,菌株耐药率处于较低水平,分子分型提示菌株呈高度遗传多态性。     

2021年西安市食源性腹泻患者致泻大肠埃希菌耐药性及分子分型

目的 了解2021年西安市食源性腹泻患者致泻大肠埃希菌（DEC）的感染状况、致病型分布、耐药性及分子分型特征。方法 收集西安市5家哨点医院腹泻患者粪便标本,进行DEC分离和PCR毒力基因分型鉴定,采用微量肉汤稀释法和脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）对分离株进行药敏试验和分子分型,结果采用SPSS 19.0软件进行统计学分析。结果 389份粪便标本检出DEC阳性40份,阳性检出率为10.28%（40/389）。共分离到41株DEC,以肠产毒性大肠埃希菌（ETEC）和肠集聚性大肠埃希菌（EAEC）为主,分别占41.46%（17/41）和39.02%（16/41）。ETEC以estIa/estIb基因型为主（70.59%,12/17）,EAEC以astA/pic基因型为主（87.50%,14/16）。40株菌（97.56%,40/41）对至少1种抗生素耐药,对氨苄西林、四环素、头孢噻肟和萘啶酸耐药率均超过50%,多重耐药率为56.10%（23/41）。41株DEC聚类分析得到40种带型,相似度为62.0%~100.0%。结论 2021年西安市食源性腹泻患者中DEC检出率较高,主要致病型为ETEC和EAEC,PFGE带型较为分散,菌株耐药及多重耐药现象比较严重。     

徐州市市售生肉中单核细胞增生李斯特菌污染及其分子特征分析

目的 分析2018年和2020年徐州市市售生肉中单核细胞增生李斯特菌检出率及其分子生物学特征。方法 随机采集市区零售鲜或冷冻生禽肉及调理肉，按照GB 4789.30—2016《食品安全国家标准 食品微生物学检验 单核细胞增生李斯特氏菌检验》对单核细胞增生李斯特菌进行分离、鉴定，并分析其血清型、耐药性、毒力基因型、脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分子分型。结果 142份市售生肉中有40份检出单核细胞增生李斯特菌，检出率为28.2%（40/142）；血清型主要为1/2a型，占50.0%（20/40）；40株单核细胞增生李斯特菌共分为15种PT型；对氨苄西林及青霉素耐药菌株分别有4株和2株；所有菌株均携带多种毒力基因。结论 徐州市市售生肉中单核细胞增生李斯特菌污染较严重，存在小规模同源菌株，需进一步加强监测管理，以防食源性疾病的发生。     

三文鱼来源副溶血性弧菌的血清分型、毒力基因及耐药性研究

目的 对2019年广州市售三文鱼中副溶血性弧菌的血清型、毒力基因分布及耐药特征进行研究,为防控因食用三文鱼引起副溶血性弧菌食源性疾病提供数据支持。方法 根据GB 4789.7—2013方法对90份广州市售三文鱼样品进行副溶血性弧菌分离、定量及血清分型,分离株的鉴定及耐药性分析采用全自动微生物鉴定仪分析,通过PCR扩增对毒力基因进行检测。结果 90份三文鱼样品中,有16份检出副溶血性弧菌,总检出率为17.78%,阳性样品污染量范围为3.6~93 MPN/g,其中批发市场的检出率（27.50%）最高。MPN计数阳性管分离得到的72株副溶血性弧菌经血清凝集共分出11个O群血清型,分型率为80.56%,其中O11、O9和O6群为主要血清型,占51.39%,其他血清型分布较分散。72株副溶血性弧菌均含有tlh基因,且均未检测到trh和tdh基因。药敏分析发现,全部分离株对碳青霉烯类、单酰胺环类、氨基糖苷类、喹诺酮类和硝基呋喃类等5类18种抗生素敏感。分离株对氨苄西林高度耐药,耐药率达97.22%,少数分离株对哌拉西林（1.39%）和复方新诺明（5.56%）耐药。6.94%的分离株同时对2种抗生素耐药,未出现多重耐药。结论 广州市售三文鱼受到副溶血性弧菌污染程度较高,分离株的血清型呈多样化,主要为非致病株,但具有一定程度的耐药,存在危害健康的潜在风险。     

2020年辽宁省副溶血性弧菌PFGE分型、血清型分布和耐药谱分析

目的 了解辽宁省副溶血性弧菌（VP）的流行特征,为食源性疾病的防控提供可靠的技术支持,提高对食物中毒应急事件的处理能力。方法 对2020年从辽宁省内14个市内食源性疾病病人和食品中分离的VP进行PFGE分子分型、血清学分型、药物敏感试验并分析。结果 44株VP（食源性疾病分离株22株,食品分离株22株）共分为15个血清型,9个血清群,有8株不能进行K分型,不可分型率为18.2%。食源性疾病分离株分为4个血清型、3个血清群,主要血清群为O3,其次为O1;食品分离株分为11个血清型、6个血清群,主要血清群为O2,其次为O1和O3。44株VP对15种抗生素的药敏结果显示,头孢唑啉耐药率高达68.2%,其次是氨苄西林22.7%、红霉素13.6%、阿奇霉素4.5%、头孢西丁2.3%、头孢噻肟2.3%。菌株主要对β-内酰胺类和大环内酯类抗生素耐药,耐药性逐年增强,一些食源性疾病分离株出现多重耐药,且多重耐药株数量逐年增加。食源性疾病分离株较食品分离株耐药率高,血清型O3∶K6为主要流行菌株,且耐药率高,PFGE分子分型按相似度90%以上,可分为5种PFGE优势带型。食源性疾病分离株相似度较高,可聚类成3个组。而食品分离株相似度较低,除了两株菌相似度大于90%外,其余菌株间相似度均在85%以下。结论 O3与O1血清型菌株之间有高度同源性,提示O3与O1血清型菌株密切相关。食品分离株同源性较低,提示食品株间关联性较差。辽宁省2020年VP分离株耐药情况不容乐观,耐药趋势还需进一步关注。     

2017—2020年江苏省无锡市沙门菌的血清型与耐药性研究

目的 分析2017—2020年江苏省无锡市沙门菌报告病例的血清型特点和抗生素耐药性流行特征及变化趋势。方法 收集分离自 2017—2020年无锡市食源性疾病哨点监测医院腹泻病例（住院和门诊患者）标本中的216株沙门菌菌株,采用玻片凝集法对216株菌进行血清型鉴定及分析,并采用微量肉汤稀释法检测沙门菌对13种抗生素的药物敏感性。结果 216株沙门菌分为42种血清型,优势血清型分别为肠炎沙门菌28.70%（62/216）占比,鼠伤寒沙门菌26.39%（57/216）。耐药性分析结果显示,216株沙门菌对美洛培南、阿米卡星、阿奇霉素和头孢他啶高度敏感,高敏菌株占比均高于90%;所有沙门菌对氨苄西林的耐药率最高,达到68.06%,对美洛培南的耐药率最低,仅0.46%;沙门菌在2017—2020年对氨苄西林的耐药率呈逐年增高的趋势,且每年沙门菌分离株对氨苄西林耐药性最高;共130株菌株产生了多重耐药性（60.19%）,耐药菌株数最多的耐药谱为AMP-TET-STR,占比5.56%（12/216）,优势耐药谱不明显。结论 无锡市沙门菌的流行血清型以肠炎沙门菌和鼠伤寒沙门菌为主,且沙门菌耐药性形势严峻,应该尽快建立高效的管控机制, 加强药敏监测, 优化治疗方案, 避免抗生素滥用。     

Arsenic content of some edible mushroom species

The arsenic contents of 162 fruit body samples of 37 common edible mushroom taxa were analyzed. The samples were gathered from different habitats of Hungary (mainly from mountains) between 1984 and 1999. The arsenic content of the samples was measured by the inductively coupled plasma spectrometry method. Very low [lower than 0.05 mg/kg dry matter (DM)] concentrations were found in the samples of 13 taxa, while higher (or very high) contents were quantified in other common taxa (the highest arsenic content was recorded in the fruit body of Laccaria amethysthea at 146.9 mg/kg DM). The species of eight genera (Agaricus, Calvatia, Collybia, Laccaria, Langermannia, Lepista, Lycoperdon, Macrolepiota) belong to the so-called accumulating taxa, and this tendency is evident on all habitats. This arsenic accumulation capability is found in two orders of Basidiomycetes (Agaricales and Gasteromycetales), which is to say this phenomenon occurs in the families Agaricaceae, Tricholomataceae and Gasteromycetaceae. The accumulating taxa found all have a saprotrophic type of nutrition; arsenic accumulation is not detectable in xilophagous or in mycorrhizal species. The consumption of the accumulating species found has only a low toxicological risk for three reasons: the consumed fresh fruit bodies contain about a tenfold lower arsenic level than the dried ones, the majority of arsenic occurs not in poisonous inorganic, but in less dangerous (or not poisonous) organic forms, and the frequency of consumption is low.     

Organization and localization of the dnaA and dnaK gene regions on the multichromosomal genome of Burkholderia multivorans ATCC 17616

The Burkholderia multivorans strain ATCC 17616 carries three circular chromosomes with sizes of 3.4, 2.5, and 0.9 Mb. To reveal the distribution and organization of the genes for fundamental cell functions on the genome of this bacterium, the dnaA and dnaK gene regions of ATCC 17616 were cloned and characterized. The gene organization of the dnaA region was rnpA-rmpH-dnaA-dnaN-gyrB with a single consensus DnaA-binding box (TTATCCACA) between the rmpH and dnaA genes. This intergenic region, however, did not work as an autonomously replicating sequence in ATCC 17616. On the other hand, the gene organization of the dnaK region was grpE-orf1 (gene for thioredoxin homologue)-dnaK-dnaJ-pabB (gene for p-aminobenzoate synthetase component homologue). A putative heat-shock promoter that showed good homology to the sigma32-dependent promoter consensus sequence in Escherichia coli was found upstream of the grpE gene, suggesting that these five genes constitute an operon. In M9 succinate minimal medium the dnaJ mutant grew more slowly than the wild-type strain, indicating that this operon is functional. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and Southern blot analyses indicated that both the dnaA and dnaK gene regions exist as single copies on the 3.4 Mb chromosome.     

Contamination with storage fungi of human food from Cameroon

In a mycological study, a total of 95 human food samples were investigated to evaluate the incidence of fungal contamination in Cameroon by conventional identification method and partly confirmed by DNA sequencing. The isolated fungal spp. were further studied to determine their toxigenic potentials. The investigation revealed the predominance of Aspergillus and Penicillium with 96% of samples contaminated with at least one species of these fungi, whereas the incidence of co-contamination of samples was 85%. Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus (Flavi section) were the most predominant species contaminating mainly maize and peanuts. In addition, P. crustosum and P. polonicum were the most common contaminants belonging to the genus Penicillium. On the other hand, A. ochraceus (Circumdati section) registered a low incidence rate of 5%, including other members of the Aspergillus group. Other members of the genera Rhizopus and Alternaria spp. were also registered in the study. A majority of fungal strains of A. ochraceus, A. parasiticus, P. crustosum and P. polonicum isolated were toxigenic, producing the mycotoxins tested for, while none was detected in cultures of A. fumigatus. The high incidence rate of fungi contamination coupled with their potentials in producing mycotoxins gives a strong indication that the samples tested may likely be contaminated with various mycotoxins. There is need for further study to assess the incidence of mycotoxins contamination in similar food samples.     

Microbial profiles of frozen trimmings and silver sides prepared at Indian buffalo meat packing plants

To assess microbiological quality of buffalo meat trimmings (TT = 114) and silver sides (SS = 41), samples were collected from four different Indian meat packing plants. The aim of this study was: (i) to evaluate standard plate count (SPC), psychrotrophic count (PTC), Enterococcus feacalis count (EFC), Staphylococcus aureus count (SAC) and Escherichia coli count (ECC) and the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes; and (ii) also to determine vero toxic E. coli (VTEC) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). TT samples had significantly higher (P < 0.001) SPC, PTC, EFC, and SAC than SS, while across the meat types there was no difference (P > 0.05) in ECC. E. coli was recovered from 32.4% TT and 19.5% SS samples. The prevalence rate of Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes in TT was 1.75% and 0.87%, respectively. But no SS sample was found to be positive for any of these two pathogens. VTEC was found in 2.58% of all the tested samples. This finding suggests that TT contain higher microbes but only small numbers of pathogens of latent zoonotic importance. The present study confirmed the importance of maintaining good process hygiene at meat plants for microbiological status of buffalo meat.     

Susceptibility of stored product insects to high concentrations of ozone at different exposure intervals

Ozone is a highly reactive gas with insecticidal activity. Past studies have indicated that ozone technology has potential as a management tool to control insect pests in bulk grain storage facilities. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of short periods of exposure to high ozone concentrations to kill all life stages of red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), adult maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.)) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and adult rice weevil (S. oryzae (L)) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Insects were treated with six ozone concentrations between 50 and 1800 ppm. The specific objective was to determine minimal time needed to attain 100% mortality. The most ozone-tolerant stages of T. castaneum were pupae and eggs, which required a treatment of 180 min at 1800 ppm ozone to reach 100% mortality. Eggs of P. interpunctella also required 180 min at 1800 ppm ozone to reach 100% mortality. Ozone treatments of 1800 ppm for 120 min and 1800 ppm for 60 min were required to kill all adult S. zeamais and adult S. oryzae, respectively. The results indicate that high ozone concentrations reduce the treatment times significantly over previously described results. Our results also provide new baseline information about insect tolerance to ozone treatment.     

Effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil and nisin on Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus in a food model system and on the bacterial cell membranes

The effects of different concentrations of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil (EO: 0, 5, 15 and 30 μl 100 ml⁻¹) and nisin (N: 0, 0.25 and 0.5 μg ml⁻¹), temperatures (T: 25 and 8 °C), and storage times (up to 21 days) on growth of Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus in a commercial barley soup were evaluated in a factorial design study. The growth of S. typhimurium was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased by EO concentrations and their combinations with N concentrations at 8 °C. For S. aureus, the viable count was significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by EO and N concentrations and their combinations, incubated at both storage temperatures. The mechanism of the antimicrobial action of EO, N, and their combinations against cell membranes of the tested organisms were also studied by measurement of the release of cell constituents and by the electronic microscopy observations of the cells. The significant increase of the cell constituents’ release of both organisms was observed as a result of treatments with EO and EO in combination with N. Electronic microscopy observations revealed that the cell membranes of S. typhimurium treated by EO and EO in combination with N were significantly damaged, while cells treated with only N looked similar to untreated cells. The electron micrographs of treated cells of S. aureus with EO, N, and their combination also showed important morphological damages and disrupted membranes.     

Formation of cereulide and enterotoxins by Bacillus cereus in fermented African locust beans

Afitin, iru and sonru are three spontaneously fermented African locust bean Benin condiments. The fermentation processes are exothermic, with temperatures mostly being above 40 °C. A total of 19 predominant Bacillus cereus isolates from afitin, iru and sonru, were investigated. The enterotoxin genes nhe (A, B, C) were present in all 19 isolates, the hbl (A, C, D) in one (afitin), and the cytK gene in three isolates (afitin). Levels of cytotoxicity to Vero cells and NheA production in BHI-broth was within the range of known diarrheal outbreak strains. Autoclaved cooked African locust beans inoculated with emetic (cereulide producing) B. cereus Ba18H2/RIF supported growth at 25, 30 and 40 °C with highly different maximum cereulide productions of 6 ± 5, 97 ± 3 and 0.04 ± 0.02 μg/g beans, respectively (48 h). For non-autoclaved cooked beans inoculated with 2, 4 and 6 log₁₀B. cereus Ba18H2/RIF spores/g beans, cereulide production was 5 ± 4, 64 ± 8 and 69 ± 34 μg/g beans, respectively at 24 h, while it was 70 ± 43, 92 ± 53 and 99 ± 31 μg/g at 48 h of fermentation at 30 °C. Even though high toxin levels were observed, to date there are no known reports on diarrhea or vomiting due to the consumption or afitin, iru and sonru in Benin, which also according to the present study is likely to be expected from the low levels of cereulide produced at 40 °C.     

Assessment of the microbiological safety of salad vegetables and sauces from kebab take-away restaurants in the United Kingdom

The purpose of this study was to establish the microbiological safety of salad vegetables and sauces served in kebab take-away restaurants. Comparison with published microbiological guidelines revealed that 4.7% of 1213 salad vegetable samples were of unsatisfactory microbiological quality due to Escherichia coli and/or Staphylococcus aureus levels at ≥10² cfu g⁻¹. Another 0.3% of salad samples were of unacceptable quality due to S. aureus at ≥10⁴ cfu g⁻¹ (2 samples) or the presence of Salmonella Kentucky (1 sample). Cucumber was the most contaminated salad vegetable with regards to unsatisfactory levels of E. coli (6.0%) or S. aureus (4.5%). Five percent of 1208 sauce samples were of unsatisfactory microbiological quality due to E. coli, S. aureus at ≥10² cfu g⁻¹ and/or Bacillus cereus and other Bacillus spp. at ≥10⁴ cfu g⁻¹. A further 0.6% of sauce samples were of unacceptable quality due to Bacillus spp. (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus licheniformis) at ≥10⁵ cfu g⁻¹ or the presence of Salmonella Agbeni (1 sample). More samples of chilli sauce (8.7%) were of unsatisfactory or unacceptable microbiological quality than any other sauce types. The results emphasize the need for good hygiene practices in kebab take-away restaurants handling these types of ready-to-eat products.