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Food Protection Trends
Abstracts - April 2005
Prevalence Studies on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Indicator Bacteria in Raw Ground Beef Produced at Federally Registered Establishments in Canada
Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors Concerning “Mad Cow Disease” among Physicians in Lebanon
New England Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grown on GAP-certified Farms
Prevalence Studies on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Indicator Bacteria in Raw Ground Beef Produced at Federally Registered Establishments in Canada
Thomas Gleeson,1 Lisa Duncan,1 Jean Kamanzi,2 Robert Charlebois,2
and Jeff Farber1*
1-Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0L2;
2-Laboratory Services Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 159 Cleopatra Dr., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0Y9
SUMMARY
A study was carried out to examine the microbiological quality of raw ground beef produced at 52 Canadian federally registered establishments. Raw ground beef samples were analyzed for total aerobic counts (TAC), total generic E. coli counts (EC), E. coli O157 and Salmonella. Overall, a total of 1,396 samples of raw ground beef were taken from three categories of establishments with significantly different production volumes: large, medium and small. Mean log10 TAC counts/g ranged from 3.0 to 6.4, while mean log10 generic E. coli counts/100g ranged from 2.7 to 3.5. No significant difference was demonstrated with regard to mean log10 generic E. coli counts between different sizes of establishments, although significant differences were noted for mean log10 TAC counts between small and large or medium-size establishments. A seasonal variation was noticed during the months of June and August for mean log10 TAC counts; however, no obvious seasonal variation was observed for mean log10 E. coli counts. In total, for large, medium and small-size establishments, 0.74, 2.1 and 0.25% of samples, respectively, were positive for E. coli O157, while 0.87, 1.06 and 0.5% of samples, respectively, were positive for Salmonella spp.
Knowledge, Attitudes
and Behaviors Concerning “Mad Cow Disease” among Physicians in Lebanon
Steve Harakeh, 1* Rema Afifi Soweid, Haïfa Cortbawi, 2 Khalil Abou-El-Ardat, 1 Abbas Ossama, 3 Accaoui Ramzi, 3 Bendaly Edgard, 3 Hakim Wyel, 3 Kadri Abdul-Aziz, 3 Masroujeh Ramy, 3 Obeid Makram, 3 and Shatila Khaled 3
1-Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB), P.O. Box 11-0236 Beirut, Lebanon,*
2-Department of Health Behavior and Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, AUB, Beirut, Lebanon;
3-Faculty of Medicine, AUB, Beirut, Lebanon
SUMMARY
Our study group consisted of 142 physicians belonging to three hospitals in the Greater Beirut area: the American University of Beirut’s Medical Center (A.U.B-M.C.), the St. Georges Hospital and the Sacré Coeur Hospital. The objective of this study, which was conducted in 2002, was to assess in physicians in the Greater Beirut area in Lebanon, knowledge, attitude and behavioral changes related to “Mad Cow Disease” (MCD). A high percentage of practitioners knew the correct answers to questions related to the causative agent (98%), the concentration of agent in the central nervous system (96%), fatality (94%) associated with the disease, treatment (86%), similarity between nvCJD and BSE (82%) and existence of a diagnostic test (72%). However, less than one-fifth of the physicians answered correctly to questions on the possibility of transmission among humans by blood transfusions (10%), solution to skin contamination (9%), concentration of agent in all three systems concerned (5%) or solution surface contamination (3%). Age had no significant impact on the level of knowledge about MCD. Regarding sources of information about MCD, the press and radio were the most important private sources of information affecting the level of knowledge. Also, television (TV) had a negative impact on knowledge, whereas all formal channels positively affected it. The majority of our study group seemed not to be concerned about the disease. Fifty-seven percent did not consider themselves at risk of contracting MCD, and only 22% thought that the chance of contracting the disease through the intake of contaminated food products is high. Regarding behavioral changes, 79% had decreased or completely stopped their consumption of beef. Age, gender, level of knowledge and attitudes were not significant determinants in changing behavior, although they did affect it. The results provide information regarding knowledge, attitude and behavior of Greater Beirut physicians towards “Mad Cow Disease.” This is the first study in Lebanon that involves assessing knowledge and behavioral changes concerning MCD in physicians as perceived reliable sources of information.
New England Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grown
on GAP-certified Farms
Lori F. Pivarnik,1* Holger Donath,2 Martha S. Patnoad,3 and Cathy Roheim4
1-University of Rhode Island, Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, 530 Liberty Lane, West Kingston, RI 02892, USA;
2-Information Resources, Inc., 383 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851, USA;
3-University of Rhode Island, Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, CE Education Center, Kingston, RI 02881, USA;
4-University of Rhode Island, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Department, Coastal Institute, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
SUMMARY
A consumer survey was distributed throughout the New England states to evaluate consumers’ food safety concerns and purchasing profiles regarding fresh produce and their preferences for produce grown by farms with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Of 3,000 surveys, 24% were returned. Respondents were slightly older, had higher median income and were more educated than the averages indicated by 2000 Census data for the New England region. Consumers expressed preference for locally grown produce and considered produce from a roadside stand or farmer’s market safer to eat than produce from a supermarket. Only 22% of respondents were completely confident in the safety of produce in the United States and 64% indicated that produce would become contaminated prior to retail: on the farm (23%), in the warehouse (21%) or during transport (20%). Few considered handling at home or in roadside stands to be a significant source of pathogenic contamination. Although 84% and 71% of the respondents indicated that they would pay a 0.50 and $1.00 premium, respectively, for a produce basket from a GAP-certified farm, economic regression modelling showed no statistical characteristic that could be used as an explanation. However, when the extremes of the distribution were compared to those not willing to pay anything for safety assurances, slightly younger, highly educated, female and larger household size were found to be significant descriptors.
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