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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiological and sensory quality as well as the safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked foods prepared in and distributed from a centralized kitchen to schools in Argentina. A total of 101 cooked food samples delivered as hot RTE cooked foods (group A) and as RTE cooked foods at room temperature (group B) and 140 surface swab environment samples were collected from February to November 1999. Petrifilm plates were used for aerobic (PAC), coliform (PCC), and Escherichia coli (PEC) counts. Standard methods were used to determine Enterobacteriaceae (EntC) and thermotolerant coliform counts (TCC). Samples were also tested for the presence of Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium perfringens. Food temperatures just before samples were put into containers ranged from 80 to 98 degrees C and from 28 to 32 degrees C for group A and group B, respectively. For group A food samples, PAC ranged from 1.04 to 3.50 log CFU/g, and PCC, PEC, TCC, and EntC were not detected. For group B food samples, PAC ranged from 3.63 to 6.48 log CFU/g, PCC ranged from 1.90 to 5.36 log CFU/g, TCC ranged from 1.30 to 3.95 log CFU/g, and EntC ranged from 3.60 to 5.46 log CFU/g. Of the foodborne pathogens, only B. cereus was isolated (63.4% of samples) in both food groups (<4 log CFU/g). The microbiological and sensory quality and the safety of group A foods were satisfactory. Large numbers of PAC and EntC detected in group B foods show that better control is needed to avoid potential foodborne diseases.

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The Fusarium diversity and the mycobiota associated with moldy wheat kernels from Santa Fe province, Argentine, was assessed. The wheat cultivated area in Santa Fe province is divided according to agrometeorological conditions into two zones: Zone I (northcentral) and Zone II (south). The natural occurrence of Fusarium toxins BEA, FUP, DON and NIV was also determined. Cladosporium was the most abundant of the 19 genera identified, followed by Fusarium, Phoma and Alternaria. Zone II shows a predominance of F. graminearum and F. culmorum. In Zone I, DON was present in 13/32 samples (range 0.43-3.60 mg kg −1 ) and NIV in 6/32 samples (range 0.11-0.40 mg kg −1 ). In zone II, DON was found in 11/21 samples (range 0.57-9.50 mg kg −1 ) and NIV in 4/21 samples (range 0.10-0.60 mg kg −1 ). BEA and FP were not detected in both zones.

Microbial contamination is a problem in food industry. The effects produced by the metabolic activity of yeasts are diverse. If they are found in high numbers it might affect the organoleptic quality of the product. Zygosaccharomyces is the most frequent contaminant genus in sweetened juices that are not properly processed and stored. The aim of this work was to compare the action of five commercial sanitizers against isolates of Z. rouxii and to determine appropriate concentrations and time of action for the inactivation. Peracetic acid, monochloramine, iodophor and quaternary ammonium compounds were evaluated on different surfaces (stainless steel, plastic and glass) at room temperature for 30 and 60 s. It was possible to achieve a 99.99 of death Efficiency corresponding to 4 log10 of reduction for a contact time of 60 s for 0.5% (v/v) of peracetic acid, monochloramines and 0.5% (w/v) of iodophors, 1% for compound with a base of 8% (v/v) of benzyl chloride and 7.5% (v/v) of glutaraldehyde and 5% for sodium hypochlorite (55 g/L active compound). Stainless steel was successfully sanitized with all the compounds tested, and then it would be the most appropriate for the food industry because this material is also highly resistant to abrasion, to impact and to different chemical treatments. In view of the great variety of sanitizing products, the selection of the best sanitizer will depend on efficiency, safety and cost.