This study was undertaken to evaluate the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat (RTE) liver
sandwiches known as “Kibda” from vending shops and different restaurants in Assiut city, Egypt.
Microbiological analysis of 100 samples of examined RTE liver sandwiches resulted in total bacterial counts
from 1 × 10 to 2 × 10 cfu/g with average 1 × 10 cfu/g and Enterobacteriaceae counts ranged from 1 × 10 to
27
6
2
2 × 10 cfu/g with average 1 × 10 cfu/g, while, total fungal counts from 1 × 10 to 5 ×10 cfu/g with an average
5
4
26
4 ×10 cfu/g. Coagulase positive
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Bacillus cereus
, Shigella and
Salmonella
5
Typhimurium
were detected in 40, 20, 23 and 7% of examined samples, respectively.
S. aureus
was the most
common pathogen detected in examined samples (mean counts 6 × 10 cfu/g), while, mean values of
B. cereus
2
were 8 × 10 cfu/g. Three isolates of
S. aureus
were positive for enterotoxin production. Also, 39 isolates related
2
to family Enterobacteriacae could be isolated. The obtained results indicate that consumption of RTE liver
sandwiches may cause a public health hazard to the consumer. Measures to control the quality of the raw
material, environmental and hygienic conditions during preparation and serving should be taken