The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study
Ethnic food is produced by an ethnic group—using their familiarity with local ingredients of plants and/or animal origin—and it is consumed in a country other than the country of origin. In Italy, the ethnic food market has expanded over the last three decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/6/1244 |
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| author | Loredana Biondi Andrea Fulgione Assunta De Lella Anna Cutarelli Morena Nappa Francesca Garofalo Stefania Cavallo Donatella Nava |
| author_facet | Loredana Biondi Andrea Fulgione Assunta De Lella Anna Cutarelli Morena Nappa Francesca Garofalo Stefania Cavallo Donatella Nava |
| author_sort | Loredana Biondi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ethnic food is produced by an ethnic group—using their familiarity with local ingredients of plants and/or animal origin—and it is consumed in a country other than the country of origin. In Italy, the ethnic food market has expanded over the last three decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correct labeling, the microbiological communities and the allergens present in 50 ethnic foods. The visual inspection of labels and microbiological and allergen analyses have been carried out for evaluating their food safety. The visual inspection of labels revealed the absence of labeling in Italian and/or a failure to specify the place of origin. Microbiological analyses showed the absence of pathogens (i.e., <i>Salmonella</i> spp., <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> and <i>E. coli</i> 0157:H7) in all matrices, but the presence of process hygiene indicator bacteria (total bacterial count, Coagulase-positive Staphylococci, <i>Bacillus cereus</i>, coliforms, yeasts and molds) was found in 37 samples. With regard to allergens, 12 samples were non-compliant for the presence of at least one allergen, while only two products were of species different from those declared on the label. This research highlights the need to increase the control of ethnic foods and also to improve the labeling system by standardizing international regulations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:32:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-edcbb7c01e0d4937a3075b896131a05b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:32:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-edcbb7c01e0d4937a3075b896131a05b2023-11-17T11:06:43ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-03-01126124410.3390/foods12061244The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary StudyLoredana Biondi0Andrea Fulgione1Assunta De Lella2Anna Cutarelli3Morena Nappa4Francesca Garofalo5Stefania Cavallo6Donatella Nava7Department of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Epidemiologic and Biostatistic Regional Observatory (OREB), Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Food Security Coordination, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, Naples, ItalyEthnic food is produced by an ethnic group—using their familiarity with local ingredients of plants and/or animal origin—and it is consumed in a country other than the country of origin. In Italy, the ethnic food market has expanded over the last three decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correct labeling, the microbiological communities and the allergens present in 50 ethnic foods. The visual inspection of labels and microbiological and allergen analyses have been carried out for evaluating their food safety. The visual inspection of labels revealed the absence of labeling in Italian and/or a failure to specify the place of origin. Microbiological analyses showed the absence of pathogens (i.e., <i>Salmonella</i> spp., <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> and <i>E. coli</i> 0157:H7) in all matrices, but the presence of process hygiene indicator bacteria (total bacterial count, Coagulase-positive Staphylococci, <i>Bacillus cereus</i>, coliforms, yeasts and molds) was found in 37 samples. With regard to allergens, 12 samples were non-compliant for the presence of at least one allergen, while only two products were of species different from those declared on the label. This research highlights the need to increase the control of ethnic foods and also to improve the labeling system by standardizing international regulations.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/6/1244ethnic foodsfood safetyfood labelingallergens |
| spellingShingle | Loredana Biondi Andrea Fulgione Assunta De Lella Anna Cutarelli Morena Nappa Francesca Garofalo Stefania Cavallo Donatella Nava The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study Foods ethnic foods food safety food labeling allergens |
| title | The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study |
| title_full | The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study |
| title_fullStr | The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study |
| title_short | The Safety of Ethnic Foods in Campania Region: A Preliminary Study |
| title_sort | safety of ethnic foods in campania region a preliminary study |
| topic | ethnic foods food safety food labeling allergens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/6/1244 |
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