THE MICROBIOLOGICAL STUDY OF MINCED MEAT IN SOME MARKETS IN ALEXANDRIA WITH REFERENCE TO ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 H: 7

This cross sectional study was carried out during a four months period from December, 2012 to March, 2013. A total of 140 fresh and frozen ground beef samples were purchased from local butchers and supermarkets in Alexandria. Each of the ground beef sample was analyzed for its microbiological quality (Aerobic plate count, total coliform count and E. coli count) as well as for the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Out of the 140 studied ground meat samples, 75(53.6%) proved to be unsatisfactory according to the three tested parameters. None out of 140 examined ground meat samples showed E. coli O157:H7.