1. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dry-ice decontamination on equipment and carcase surfaces in a poultry slaughterhouse and to present an effective alternative method to the conventional decontamination processes. 2. Appreciable reductions occurred in total aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts of surface swab samples treated with dry ice (maximum difference 3.92 log cfu/100 cm). 3. After dry-ice treatment, Listeria spp. were detected on surfaces of pluckers and chiller cylinders, whereas Salmonella spp. were totally inhibited. 4. A dry-ice spraying application was more effective than a dry-ice immersing application on total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeast and mould counts on poultry carcases. 5. Dry-ice treatment has advantages over conventional processes. Unlike other decontamination techniques, there are no residues, so no need to wash off chemical residues from surfaces as it removes contaminants effortlessly and is environmentally friendly. 6. Dry-ice blasting of production equipment can reduce the microbial load and has potential for use in the poultry industry.

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Since the existence of mankind, nutrition is one of the necessities to maintain their vital activities. Nutritional habit, a physiological movement, has progressed in parallel with the development of living conditions of mankind. This instinctive behaviour has started with gathering in the nature originally. People have found edible foods by distinguishing the harmful plants in the nature. Mankind, who had learned cooking with the invention of fire, has discovered foodstuffs that can be obtained from animals in time. Due to this discovery, they had an opportunity to try different flavours and supply a greater variety of needed macro components of their body such as proteins, vitamins and essential oils etc. This nutrition diversity has brought with the taste phenomenon. The major reasons of consumed food variety are the climate of the region they live in, the condition of nature and the kinds of vegetables, fruits, grains that grow in these regions. Furthermore, it is inevitable that the diversity of animals living in the region causes food diversity. This situation, which is the result of ecological balance, has been one of the main causes of cultural differences between societies over time. The culinary culture has been seperated by geographical regions over time and a sub-culture called "regional dishes" has formed. Until today, mankind have developed new tastes by experimenting with many food preparation and cooking techniques. In this study, the development of Turkish food culture and nutrition habits throughout the history have been reviewed.

In recent years, ultraviolet and ultrasound treatments are gaining attraction as promising green decontamination technologies to ensure microbial safety in food industry. Decontamination by ultraviolet light is a physical process defined by the transfer of electromagnetic energy from a light source to an organism's cellular material and depended on the emission of radiation in the ultraviolet region (100–400 nm), specifically the UV-C region (200–280 nm) which has been demonstrated to be germicidal. Ultrasound technology is defined as sound waves with high and low frequency beyond the limit of human hearing and shows a decontamination effect that occurs as a consequence of cavitation at high power (low frequency) in general. In the present study, it was aimed to determine the effectiveness of ultraviolet light (254 nm, 10 min) and high frequency ultrasound techniques (40 kHz, 10 min) in reducing total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, yeast and mold, Esherichia coli/coliform and Salmonella spp. on the equipment surfaces used in the catering facility. For this purpose, the equipment (cutting knife, meat grinder knife, knife sharpener, cut-proof glove) used in the meat preparation department of catering facility were selected for the treatments. According to the results, appreciable reductions were achieved in total aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts of the ultraviolet treated samples (maximum difference 2.61 log cfu/cm2) and the ultrasound treated samples (maximum difference 4.07 log cfu/cm2). After ultraviolet treatment, Salmonella spp. were totally inhibited on the contaminated surfaces. Furthermore, Escherichia coli/coliform was not detected in the samples after both treatments whereas it was detected before the treatments. It has been concluded that the techniques are effective in reducing microbiological load and also ultraviolet treatment is effective on pathogenic microorganisms on food contact surfaces. As a result, the ultraviolet and ultrasound techniques are effective treatments for equipment disinfection in the catering sector and can be used industrially as it gives successful results.

PurposeAccording to the dietary needs of celiac people and very limited variety of commercially available foodstuff, the demand for gluten-free products is increasing every day. Keeping this in view, the present study aims to develop healthier gluten-free chicken products by using different cereal sources and to determine the effect of substitution of wheat flour with gluten-free flours on quality of chicken products.Design/methodology/approachBuckwheat, chickpea and rice flours were used as gluten-free flours for the production of chicken products. The physical (yield parameters, crust colour), chemical (proximate composition, caloric value, pH) and sensorial properties of coated chicken products were measured. Duncan's multiple range test and principles component analysis were performed.FindingsGluten-free flours were significantly effective on yield parameters, colour, moisture, protein, lipid and caloric value of the samples (p < 0.05). The results showed that gluten-free chicken products had better pickup, lighter appearance, higher cooking yield and moisture, lower cooking loss, oil absorption, lipid and caloric values compared to commercial wheat flour coated control. Regarding the overall impression rank sums, the panellists were more preferred gluten-free products than control group. The samples coated with chickpea flour were best rated by the panellists. The results of the study suggested that the use of chickpea coating flour could be best nutritionally and sensorially suitable option for producing gluten-free chicken product.Originality/valueThis study offers potential healthy alternatives to increase the variety of gluten-free products that celiac people desperately need today.