Factors impacting microbial load of food refrigeration equipment

Our aim was to determine factors that have an impact on the bacterial load of inner surfaces of food refrigeration equipment to develop recommendations that should be made to consumers. We investigated 23 domestic refrigerators (DRs) and, for comparison, six serve-over counters (SOCs). Several zones were studied for aerobic mesophilic counts (AMC) presumptive Bacillus cereus and coagulase-positive staphylococci. In addition, for each DR sample, we collected data on the condition of the sampled surface and refrigeration practices. In DRs, there was no correlation between AMC and temperature, relative humidity, pH or cleaning frequency. AMC counts in SOCs, which are cleaned and disinfected weekly, were similar to the figures from the less frequently cleaned DRs, but B. cereus and coagulase-positive Staphylococus were less frequently found in SOCs. In DRs, the highest AMC counts were reached when both condensation and food traces were visible, i.e. when growth conditions were met, resulting in a mean of 10⁴ CFU/cm² against of mean of 32 CFU/cm² on clean surfaces and dry surfaces with food traces. Consequently, two recommendations for consumers are (1) to avoid condensation and (2) to clean up food spills as soon as possible.