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Health and Safety Update (April 2009)

Microbiological Quality of Salad Vegetables and Sauces from Kebab Takeaway Restaurants

A Health Protection Agency (HPA) study has found that around 5% of salads and sauces served in kebab takeaway restaurants contain unsatisfactory and unacceptable levels of bacteria.

Between 1992 and 2007, 13 outbreaks of food borne disease were reported in England and Wales associated with kebabs and products served from takeaway restaurants. There were 739 cases linked to these outbreaks, with 94 people hospitalised.  Previous studies have shown cooked kebab meat to be of good microbiological quality. However, the evidence from food borne outbreaks suggests that contamination of other foods available from kebab takeaway restaurants may also be an important factor.

For this study, a total of 1,213 salad and 1208 sauce samples were collected from 1,277 randomly selected kebab shops across England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 1 June and 31 July 2007. Salad and sauce samples were analysed for the presence of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella. Sauces were additionally examined for Bacillus type organisms. Microbiological results were compared to the HPA guidelines for the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat foods sampled at the point of sale.

It was found that almost 5% of salad vegetable samples were of unsatisfactory microbiological quality due to E. coli and/or S. aureus. Cucumber was the most contaminated salad vegetable.

Almost 5% of sauce samples were also of unsatisfactory microbiological quality due to E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus and other pathogenic Bacillus.

Chilli sauce samples were the most contaminated, with 8.7% of unsatisfactory or unacceptable microbiological quality.

Two recent large outbreaks of salmonella in the UK highlight that significant health problems can arise from contaminated salad and sauce products in addition to kebab meat.

The study highlights the importance of sound approaches to food safety management in kebab takeaways. If you are in this business or in any other fast food or any food business then you should implement your RBS Mentor Food Safety System to ensure that your organisation is HACCP compliant and to promote better practices within the workplace. Use our 24/7 advice line and the services of your dedicated Consultant to reinforce the message of good food and kitchen hygiene within your workplace.



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