Human campylobacteriosis remains the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in Europe and Campylobacter (C.) jejuni and C. coli are the two species most frequently involved in such foodborne disease. Based on the sampling plan established in the region of Lazio (Central Italy) the aim of our work was to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry meat preparations collected by the local veterinary authority at retail shops and processing plants. We also observed whether various factors such as animal species or type of product affected the isolation rate. Occurrence was significantly lower than previous surveys (12/209, 5.7%) and chicken meat was more contaminated than turkey meat.

In recent years, the incidence of foodborne diseases caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has increased globally. For this reason, within the specific regional control plan for the detection of STEC in food products in Italy, the presence of STEC in unpasteurised milk cheeses was investigated. In total, 203 samples obtained from March 2011 to December 2013 were analysed, with two standard methods (ISO 16654:2001 and ISO 13136:2012). Two strains of E. coli O157 were isolated (2/161, 1.2%) but did not carry any virulence-associated genes and 22 stx-positive samples (22/146, 15.1%) were detected in enrichment cultures, mostly from ovine cheeses. Only two strains isolated from different ovine cheeses carried stx gene and none of these was eae-positive. This study confirms the presence of stx-positive E. coli and suggests that this type of food cannot be excluded as a potential vehicle of STEC.

European Union (EU) legislation protects consumers who have a known sensitivity to gluten making obligatory to label the presence of this protein in all foods. Lazio region has therefore adopted a four-year monitoring plan in order to acquire information about the presence of undeclared gluten in products considered as a serious risk to food safety. Preliminary data reported in this work indicate the absence of gluten in all 100 samples analyzed (29 meat preparations and 71 meat products), in accordance with legislation in force. However, the number of samples of this work is still limited and therefore additional data need to be collected

This paper describes the criteria and methodologies that have been used for the planning of microbiological checks on food in the context of the wider plan of Integrated Controls (PRIC) Lazio Region as set by Regulation 882/2004 (EC)