Microbiological Contamination of Homemade Food

The consumption of healthy food is a consumer’s right and the duty of the manufacturing industry. Health authorities are duty bound to prepare and enforce laws to protect the popu‐ lation’s health. The supply of food free from health risks to the population is actually a chal‐ lenge. In fact, contaminated food may cause serious infections and jeopardize the health of the population. Owing to their frequency, food-caused infections are a very grave issue to public health. They may cause hazards ranging from a simple intestine discomfort to cases that are more serious, such as neurological disorders and death, because of the high number of microorganisms in‐ volved in a simple epidemic event. Fresh or processed animal-derived food may harbor several pathogenic microorganisms that cause physiological disorders in people who consume them. When food eventually contami‐ nated by disease-causing microorganisms is consumed, pathogens or their metabolites invade the host’s fluids or tissues and trigger serious types of diseases, such as tuberculosis. They are conveyed by non pasteurized milk or by cheese contaminated by bacterial populations of Mycobacterium bovis and M. tubercolosis or by Brucella abortus, gram negative bacteria, intracel‐ lular pathogen that cause undulant fever and arthritis in human beings. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses are the main microorganism groups that cause food dis‐ orders. Due to their diversity and pathogenesis, bacteria are by far the most important micro‐ bial group commonly associated with food-transmitted diseases. High rated agents in food


Introduction
The consumption of healthy food is a consumer's right and the duty of the manufacturing industry. Health authorities are duty bound to prepare and enforce laws to protect the population's health. The supply of food free from health risks to the population is actually a challenge. In fact, contaminated food may cause serious infections and jeopardize the health of the population.
Owing to their frequency, food-caused infections are a very grave issue to public health. They may cause hazards ranging from a simple intestine discomfort to cases that are more serious, such as neurological disorders and death, because of the high number of microorganisms involved in a simple epidemic event.
Fresh or processed animal-derived food may harbor several pathogenic microorganisms that cause physiological disorders in people who consume them. When food eventually contaminated by disease-causing microorganisms is consumed, pathogens or their metabolites invade the host's fluids or tissues and trigger serious types of diseases, such as tuberculosis. They are conveyed by non pasteurized milk or by cheese contaminated by bacterial populations of Mycobacterium bovis and M. tubercolosis or by Brucella abortus, gram negative bacteria, intracellular pathogen that cause undulant fever and arthritis in human beings.
Bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses are the main microorganism groups that cause food disorders. Due to their diversity and pathogenesis, bacteria are by far the most important microbial group commonly associated with food-transmitted diseases. High rated agents in food infections are Salmonella sp., Campylobacter sp and Listeria monocytogenes due to their importance in eventual sequelae. The microbiological health risks in fowl consumption and its raw products include contamination by the above food pathogens.
Besides being one of the principal causes of food-derived diseases since its attack generally involves a great number of people, the genus Salmonella is associated with economic liabilities, commercial damage and decrease in production due to its frequency and extension. These facts occur because of the great number of food products that may be contaminated by this bacterium, namely, food with high humidity, protein and carbohydrate rates, such as beef, pork, chicken, eggs, milk and their derived products, highly liable to deteriorate. The contamination process by pathogenic bacteria in humans may be caused by poor hygiene conditions during processing involving sick people and animals or involving feces from infected agents. Bacteriacontaminated food may also be hazardous to public health due to the excessive growth in bacteria populations at food surface or within the food. These bacteria may come from the environment and cause toxins that develop into serious health problems on intake.
Hand-manipulated meat, sausages, salamis and cheese are among the most consumed products worldwide. They are also liable to high microbiological contamination due to their manufacturing process.
The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations have published reports and studies developed in several regions of the planet highlighting the pathogen risks to populations and suggested the protection of food consumers through special industrial, operational, commercial and residence care. The need for great attention in food safety is a self-evident topic. In fact, improvements in food processing methods and conscience-awareness with regard to food safety by all involved in the food production chain will surely reduce the incidence of food-originated diseases.

Microbiological contaminants of milk and homemade fresh cheese
Milk is one of the most complete food featuring high levels of protein and mineral salts. However, due to the availability of nutrients and almost neutral pH, milk is highly perishable. It is highly liable to microbial growth and requires thermal treatment for its conservation [1]. Pasteurization prolongs milk conservation time, conserves its natural characteristics and preserves it safe for human consumption. High temperatures are involved so that the product's pathogenic microbiota are eliminated with no changes in its physical and chemical constitution. However, people in rural regions still drink milk in natura and use it thus as prime matter for the manufacture of derived products.
The hygienic obtaining of milk is the first critical factor within the manufacturing process of cheese and other products. In fact, the animal, equipments and environment at milking may be an important contamination source by microorganisms [2]. Faults during milking and processing coupled to inadequate conservation temperatures at the selling outlets are factors that contribute towards the commercialization of milk products with microbiological charac-teristics that go against health norms and legislation [3]. The quality of milk and that of its products is a highly relevant factor for positive industrialization success since both the dairy and the consumer are interested in the outcome. In some case, however, a significant increase in the price of milk ensues. Milk is a product that should come from healthy herds, with good meals and managements, and from farms with proper technical installations that guarantee conservation during transport up to the dairy factory [4].
Since the number of milk contaminants increases at a slow rate from the moment of their introduction, the importance of adequate conservation of recently obtained milk should be underpinned as a basic practice for the maintenance of its quality. Milk should be submitted at low temperatures immediately after the milking process, with the consequent avoidance of the proliferation of unwanted microorganisms [5].
As a milk-derived product, cheese is frequently a food-originating pathogen vector. This is especially true for handmade fresh cheese manufactured from raw milk, lacking any maturation process. The product's microbial contamination is relevant for the industry because of financial liabilities, and for public health because of the risks in food-transmitted diseases.
Several studies [6] have shown that a product's quality and durability largely depend on the prime matter used in manufacturing. It is practically impossible to improve the qualities of a derived product, such as cheese, with a high number of microorganisms present in raw milk.

Fresh Minas cheese
Fresh Minas cheese (traditionally manufactured in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, whence its name) is defined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (Decree 146) as fresh cheese obtained by enzyme coagulation of milk with curds and other appropriate coagulant enzymes, supplemented or not by the activity of specific lactic bacteria. According to the Technical Rules for the Identification and Quality of Milk Products [7], fresh Minas cheese may be classified as cheese with low moisture or semi-hard cheese with moisture ranging between 36 and 45.9%; cheese with high moisture or moderate mass cheese with 46 to 54.9% moisture; and very high moisture cheese or soft mass cheese, with not less than 55% moisture.
The processing of fresh Minas cheese comprises the following stages: milk pasteurization, coagulation, cutting, draining, milling, salting, packing and cooling [8]. Since the manufacturing of this type of cheese is highly simple, many small, medium-sized and large dairies are interested in its fabrication. In fact, it is the most common type of cheese found in fairs, bars and grocers. The cheese is normally placed in a common non-vacuum plastic bag and closed by a metal seal [9].
According to the Brazilian Association of Cheese Industry (ABIQ), Brazil produces 400,000 tons of cheese per year, of which 240,000 tons are produced under federal, state and municipal inspection. Most production (95%) is consumed by common people [10].
The intake of fresh cheese may be risky for the consumer's health. However, Decree 861/1984 basically prohibits the sale of fresh cheese manufactured from the raw milk of cows, goats or sheep, pure or mixed. Milk should undergo pasteurization or other equivalent thermal treatment. Current legislation was published after several registers of human brucellosis caused by fresh cheese. In defiance of the law, the homemade manufacture of cheese in certain regions of Brazil is not done with pasteurized milk. Consequently, the consumption of homemade cheese brings to the fore old dangers such as brucellosis (Maltese fever) and other infectious diseases.
In spite of the legal prohibition against the commercialization of fresh and tender cheese manufactured from raw milk, the sale of homemade fresh Minas cheese occurs openly and everywhere in Brazil [11]. This is partially due to a greater yield, simpler processing and lack of product's maturation in the fabrication of this type of cheese, with low costs for the consumer and a fast return of expenditure to the manufacturer [12].
Food protection authorities classify microbial biological contamination as a main danger to public health. Who has constantly raised its voice on the need to restrict food contamination by health-impairing biological agents. Although microbial quality of food is of paramount importance, registration at the Federal Inspection Service does not guarantee lack of pathogens in food [13].
Food-derived diseases may be caused by several microorganism groups that include bacteria, fungi, yeasts, protozoa and viruses. Due to their diversity and pathogenesis, bacteria are by far the most important microbial group and commonly associated with food-transmitting diseases Bacteria are microorganisms largely spread throughout the natural world and may be found in every type of environment [14]. They cause diseases in humans, animals and plants and deteriorate food and other materials. On the other hand, they may be useful too when they compose the human being's normal microbiota and are used in the production of food as symbiotic in agriculture and medicine.
In spite of certain unreliable Brazilian statistics, it is believed that food-derived diseases in Brazil are high [15]. In fact, several studies estimate that 12% of hospitalization cases in Brazil occur because of infectious intestinal diseases [16].
Occurrences of food-derived diseases are normally associated with certain risk factors, or rather, procedures that benefit toxin infections. The following may be highlighted: faults in food refrigeration; conservation of warm food at room temperature; food prepared many hours earlier for later consumption with inadequate conditioning during the interval; faults in the cooking process; handling of food by people with inadequate personal hygiene practices, or with lesions or with contaminating diseases; usage of contaminated prime matter; faults in the hygiene of utensils and other equipments in food preparation; favorable environmental conditions for the growth of etiological agents; food obtained from unreliable sources; inadequate storage; use of utensils which release toxic residues; intentional or accidental addition of toxic chemicals to the food; usage of water with uncontrolled drinkability features; water contamination from damages in the supply system [17].

Food Industry
Problems in the manufacture of cheese in Brazil are related to precarious conditions of milk, bad conditions during the manhandling of cheese and the lack or deficiency of refrigeration throughout the production chain. These factors worsen the situation and establish contamination conditions which favor the development of microorganisms at several places [18].
Whereas some microorganisms contribute beneficently towards the processing, safety and quality of certain food products, other organisms are involved in processes with unwanted effects in food and for the consumers' health. There are two categories of food-transmitted microbial diseases: food intoxication and infection by food. In food intoxication, the person ingests toxins that are pre-formed by microorganisms in the food. The toxin causes damage to the organism. Examples comprise botulinum toxin that binds itself to the nerve terminals at the muscle level and impedes the release of acetylcholine neurotransmitter, and staphylococcus toxin that acts on the brain's vomiting-center [19]. Infection by food occurs when the pathogen, such as by Salmonella typhy and other serotypes, is ingested and multiplies itself, causing diseases in the intestine tract and often in other organs [20].
The sale of animal-derived food in fair stalls without any refrigeration and without any protection against dust and insects may alter their quality. In the case of cheese, it is sold in portions or slices and thus the external incorporation of biological or non-biological foreign matter is dangerous due to faults in the handling of the product during commercialization, poor hygiene of the stalls and utensils used, and crossed contamination between exposed products [21].
Food microbial contamination is unwanted and dangerous within food microbiology. This aspect should be faced with great strictness. The acknowledgement of possible hygiene deficiency implying in food contamination brings to the fore microorganism groups, comprising indicators, and pathogenic microorganisms that find an excellent environment in food for their development and even for the release of toxic substances [22]. Total and thermotolerant coliforms, such as Staphylococcus aureus, fungi, yeasts and even Salmonella spp., should be highlighted among the microorganisms whose presence and numbers indicate the quality of the product.
The above mentioned microorganisms, causes of several types of pathogenesis, are transmitted to humans because of lack of hygiene, bad habits of handlers, inefficient production processes, maintenance or re-heating of food at inadequate temperatures and also by non-adequate conditions in industries where the food is produced [23].
Most microorganisms, whose pathogenicity in humans depends on their variegated presence in food, are relatively sensitive to high temperatures. In fact, they are destroyed by the adequate cooking of eventually contaminated food or by pasteurization processes.
The Brazilian Agency for Health Vigilance (ANVISA) established, by Decree RDC 12 of the 2nd January 2001 [24], the microbiological Standards for several types of food, described in Table 1.
So that food-caused disease cases and events could be characterized, the populations should be informed on the symptoms of each, such as mild diarrheas and vomiting since these are considered as a "passing illness" and not necessarily associated with food consumption [25]. According with registers, more than a billion cases of acute diarrhea are detected in lessthan-5-year-old children in developing countries yearly, with 5 million deaths. Between 1999 and 2001, in the state of Paraná, Brazil, 67.1% of food epidemics were caused by bacteria. Moreover, out of 1389 notified epidemics, 38.6 were confirmed in the laboratory; 29/7% were confirmed clinically or epidemiologically suspect and 31.6% were of unknown etiology [25].
World cheese production is slightly above 19 million tons. Cheese production increased more than 76.3% during the last thirty years, or rather, from approximately 10.8 million tons in 1978 to more than 19 millions in 2008. The expansion of milk-producing regions and production increase throughout recent years provided a highly relevant presence of Brazilian production within the world market of milk-derived exports. Concern is therefore high with regard to the quality of commercialized goods for internal and external consumption.
Family-run agriculture in Brazil has an important share in the milk production chain, with approximately 86% of milk producers. However, the production and management of these milk producers are foregrounded on a homemade basis with scanty technical assistance and high influence of cultural factors that may put to risk consumers' health. Technical and educational orientation through the introduction of healthy manufacturing practices are deemed necessary to minimize contamination risks and food intoxication by the product.
Research in all Brazilian regions, where the production and commercialization of cheese is undertaken mainly by small producers, has demonstrated the risk of toxin infections in the consumption of these products by the population.
The curd-cheese is the most produced and consumed milk-derived product in the northeastern region of Brazil. Several investigations [26] have shown that the handling and carelessness in hygiene within the production system have made it foremost as a contamination source. The manufacturers are transmission vectors of the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and others that may cause food intoxication. The presence of positive coagulase staphylococcus witnesses the lack of hygiene and sanitary conditions during the production, processing, distribution, storing and commercialization stages of samples of curd-cheese. Sanitary education of the producers and the spreading of processing techniques based on good manufacturing practices are mandatory.
Researches in the state of Mato Grosso, in the Mid-Western region of Brazil, (

Microbiological contaminants of jerked beef
One of the most traditional products of the northeastern region of Brazil is jerked beef which may be characterized as a nutrition food with high calorie rates and widely accepted by consumers for its peculiar sensorial features. Jerked beef is produced from cuts derived from all parts of cattle carcass, salted and dried, with longer durability when compared to that of fresh meat [32].
Jerked beef was first used in the northeastern region of Brazil as an alternative to preserve beef surplus which could not be consumed immediately and so that the meat would not deteriorate quickly due to difficulties in its preservation especially among the poor population with no refrigeration equipments. Favorable climate conditions and availability of seawater salt, fresh meat could be preserved by being dehydrated and salted.
Currently the above-mentioned preservation process is less relevant due to the introduction of refrigeration. However, many people from different regions of Brazil, especially from the northeast, became accustomed to the produce's characteristic taste and continued to produce jerked beef will less amounts of salt and frequently without exposure to the sun.
Each Brazilian state developed its own technology and thus produced jerked beef with different characteristics with regard to aspect, taste, color, amount of salt and shelf life. The states of Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará are the greatest producers of jerked beef mainly due to climatic conditions that favor the food's dehydration. In fact, jerked beef passed from a locally consumed product and used in certain food receipts to wider conditions. In fact, it is appreciated throughout Brazil and in several meal preparations. Jerked beef may be found in big city centers such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in homes and restaurants, outside the restricted circle of northeastern cuisine [34], and in the menu of the poorest worker [35,36].
Owing to the popularization of homemade salting technique, jerked beef production follows typically regional norms. Consequently, it is produced in a highly rudimentary way under inadequate sanitary conditions [37,38]. Analysis of the hygiene conditions in the production and commercialization of jerked beef in the region of Itapetinga BA Brazil may be brought forward as an example of the popularization of the technique. In fact, 73.3% of the shopkeepers interviewed admitted that they themselves produced the jerked beef on sale in their shops. Whereas 63.6% used non-inspected meat, 27.3% used meat inspected by municipal health officers and only 0.1% was inspected by federal health officers. Jerked beef was stored and commercialized in 71% of the shops at room temperature, which favored the multiplication of contaminant microorganisms and flies. These facts bring health risks to consumers and jeopardize the product's physical aspects [39].
Salting technique consists in the removal of water from the meat tissues; decrease in water activity ensues, inhibits microbial development and the speed of unwanted reactions of the final product. When salted beef is conserved without any type of refrigeration, its shelf life is higher than that of fresh meat [40]. However, jerked beef has low sodium chloride (NaCl) rates, between 5 and 6%, high moisture, between 65 and 70% [35,41,42] and water activity of 0.92. It may be characterized as partially dehydrated meat in which water activity is not sufficient decreased to avoid microbial development (and consequently degradation) or the production of microbial toxins [43,44].
Although the literal translation of the jerked beef in Portuguese is 'meat exposed to the sun', it is actually only rarely exposed to the sunrays during the dehydration process. The end product is a semi-dehydrated homemade product with four-day shelf-life at room temperature and up to eight days under refrigeration [43,45,41].
Data on the physical and chemical qualities of jerked beef sold in butcheries and supermarkets in João Pessoa PB Brazil showed that water activity in all samples was relatively high, between 0.898 and 0.967, and that the rates of sodium chloride (NaCl) ranged between 3.73% and 9.79%. Consequently, NaCl employed in the process was insufficient to decrease water activity in the product and thus it did not have a significant inhibitory action in the development of most microorganisms in the beef [46]. Lack of standardization in the quality of jerked beef was also assessed in samples collected at inspected shops. Mean rates of water activity were 0.94±0.02. The same average was obtained for samples collected in shops without any health inspection [47]. Variations in sodium chloride rates were also registered in the samples. Techniques for more efficient conservation are required to decrease such risks since it is a type of food with contamination possibilities throughout the manufacturing process.
With regard to the microbiological contamination of jerked beef, the transformation by which meat in natura is processed into jerked beef requires that technological alterations modify the initial microbiota by which the salting and dehydration process selects more tolerant microorganisms for such conditions [48]. Pathogens that may contaminate jerked beef comprise Clostridium perfringens, Staphilococus aureus, Salmonella, verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Yersinia enterocolítica, Listeria monocytogenes, Aeromonas hydrofila, and other deteriorating bacteria [49]. However, low NaCl rates used in jerked beef is one of the factors that trigger microbiological development since decrease in water activity is insufficient to hinder the development of deterioration-producing bacteria of the genus Pseudomona. It also provides proper conditions for the growth of gram-positive bacteria as those of the genus Staphylococcus [38].
Samples of jerked beef from the north of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, showed that the amount of mesophile aerobic bacteria, an index of food hygiene quality, was between 2.0x104 UFC/g and 8.9x108 UFC/g. Psichrotrophic bacteria were found in 93.33% of samples, between 5.4x103 UFC/g and 2.9x106 UFC/g. Results show poor hygiene in the manufacture of jerked beef [50]. Similar results were reported in samples of jerked beef commercialized in João Pessoa where the number of mesophile bacteria ranged between 1.8x105 and 7.5x107 UFC/g, with a clear correlationship between mesophile contamination and hygiene and sanitary standards [42].
High thermotolerant coliform rates, which also demonstrate unsatisfactory hygiene and sanitary conditions during the processing stages in the manufacture of jerked beef, were also registered in most jerked beef samples sold in butcheries and supermarkets in João Pessoa PB Brazil [46]. However, total coliforms in food did not report recent fecal contamination or the occurrence of enteropathogens [51,52]. However, Brazilian sanitary laws did not regulate the presence of this microorganism group in meat.
The commercialization of jerked beef in health inspected or not in the region of João Pessoa PB Brazil has been evaluated and results showed high rates in both groups. Ninety-six samples were analyzed and high contamination by feces-derived microorganisms was reported. Staphylococcus ssp. rates were high in both groups, with a low frequency for S. aureus [47]. Staphylococcus aureus rates were higher than 5logUFC/cm2 in 50% of jerked beef samples commercialized in butcheries and supermarkets in João Pessoa PB Brazil. The above amounts demonstrate high contamination causing gastrointestinal disorders in consumers [53].
Mesophile microorganisms Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus in jerked beef commercialized at room temperature and under refrigeration in Campina Grande PB Brazil showed no significant difference in S. aureus counts for samples commercialized at room temperature and under refrigeration. Salmonella ssp. was detected in 40% of jerked beef samples commercialized at room temperature and in 30% of samples under refrigeration.
Another source of contamination in the commercialization of jerked beef may be found in supermarkets, open market stalls and butcheries. Data reveal that the utensils used in 75% of these outlets were not exclusively for meat cutting and that the handling of money and food was common practice in 25% of the businesses. Aprons, disposable caps and clean closed shoes were only found in 25% of the shops.
The inadequate washing of hands and other habits such as talking during the handling and commercialization of food were also reported in all commercial enterprises [54]. It has been verified that in João Pessoa, supermarkets had the best hygiene and sanitary profile in jerked beef quality, whereas open markets and stalls in fairs had the worst [42]. In the latter case, meat is exposed without any type of protection and any passerby may handle it at will.
Investigations were carried out with regard to alien matter, such as flies, acarids, larvae, insects, feathers and others, found in jerked beef sold in 20 (90.9%) shops in Diadema SP Brazil, specialized in typical products from the northeastern region of Brazil. Exposure of products without any wrappings is an excellent condition for attacks by insects, especially flies, and rodents, making it improper for human consumption in the wake of health-hazard matter [55].
Almost all jerked beef is manufactured and sold in small shops and specifically prepared for people who appreciate the product. Consequently, lack of sanitary rules for its production, precarious conditions in its commercialization, storage without refrigeration and its exposure without any protection characterize jerked beef in such conditions as haphazard to public health.

Microbiological contaminants in meat fillings (sausages made from beef and fowl meat, salami)
Animal-derived food conveys a host of microorganisms dangerous to human health. The incidence of toxin infections in Brazil is high, although statistics are rather lacking on the matter. Bacteria causing toxin infections are widely distributed although their main natural habitat is the human or animal intestine tract [14]. The most common bacteria in food contamination are of the genera Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Vibrio, Brucella, Clostridium, Listeria, Campylobacter, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus [56]. Sausages, widely used in Europe, is a type of food stuffed with meat from swine, fowls, goats, cattle and fish, seasoned with several types of spicy ingredients. Sausages are a highly popular food in Brazil, easily accessible to all classes of people and consumed throughout the country. Sausages have great acceptance in the southern and southeastern regions due to a more Europeanized culture.
Brazilian swine breeding has a very important role in several sectors of Brazilian economy. It produces jobs and intensifies demand of agricultural products in the industrialization and commercialization of animal-derived products. Besides providing excellent animal protein to the population, the meat industry exports meat and important economical assets are aggregated [57].
Data by the Brazilian Association of Production and Exportation Industry of Pork (ABIPECS) showed that approximately 65% of the Brazilian pork production is directed towards the internal market through industrialized products. Among the processed products, the fresh Tuscan-type sausage, made exclusively from pork, uses the less important animal parts as food, with great acceptance among the population.
Pork and its derived products undergo bacterial alterations owing to several factors such as animal health and fecal contamination by Escherichia coli highly relevant worldwide as a microorganism hazardous to animal and population health involving hygiene and sanitary issues [57]. The same author evaluated the occurrence of E.coli in swine in the abattoirs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from which the Tuscun-type sausages were made. Different parts of the animal used in the stuffing process were examined and concluded that, depending on the meat and the manufacturing process, sausages were not fit for consumption.
Toxoplasma gondhii in fresh pork sausages commercialized in Botucatu SP Brazil was evaluated by researches [58]. Pork represents one of the main sources of infection by T. gondii in humans. Swine were the most important animals in the process of toxoplasmosis transmission [59,60,58,61]. Mendonça's data did not show any evidence of T. gondii in the samples, perhaps due to salt, used in the manufacturing process, which eliminated the microorganism.
The occurrence of food infection by pork sausages contaminated with Salmonella sp. has been suggested [62]. Brazilian sanitary laws [63] make it mandatory that the microorganism should be lacking in 25% so that human intoxication may occur. However, such possibility may vary since it depends on serotype and the person's health conditions and tolerance. Mürmann's results [62] showed that 24% of pork sausages samples were contaminated by Salmonella enterica.
Contamination by Salmonella sp in pork may occur in pens through contact with feces, lack of hygiene and sanitation in the installations and by other animals during the transport, waiting or pre-finishing period. A high increase of S. enteriditis in food toxin infections in humans and in aviary products has been reported in Brazil since the 1990 [64].
Fecal coliforms, positive coagulase staphylococcus, Salmonella spp and Campylobacter spp in fresh sausages were evaluated [65]. When the hygiene and sanitary quality among the different types of fresh sausages was compared, pork sausages had the worst scores with regard to risks in public health, as ruled by the RDC n.12 of Anvisa [63].
The authors also registered that most samples were not in accordance to microbiological standards and thus hazardous to consumer's health. Another datum refers to the absence of Campylobacter spp in the samples, perhaps due to sodium chloride concentrations over 1.5% that may have inhibited these microorganisms.
Was analyzed [66] the presence of Listeria spp, principally L. monocytogenes, during the manufacture of fresh mixed-meat sausages in three abattoirs, supervised by state health authorities, in Pelotas RS Brazil. Results showed that all samples from the three abattoirs were contaminated by Listeria spp, of which the most frequent species was L. innocua (97.6), followed by L. monocytogenes (29.3%) and L. welshimeri (24.4%).
When the hygiene and sanitary conditions in the manufacture of fresh sausages in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, were analyzed [67] data failed to show any microbiological contamination that would jeopardize the health of the consumer. The manufacture of these samples followed strict handling and processing procedures.
On the other hand, another authors [68] studied the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance by serotypes of Salmonella isolated from fresh pork sausages and found significant quantities of the above in samples collected in the southern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. These serotypes resisted the antimicrobial products sulfonamide and tetracycline (81%); ampicillin (50%) and chloramphenicol (31.25%). Was evaluated the microbiological quality of fresh sausages in two towns of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil [69]. Results confirmed positive coagulase Staphylococcus in 35% of samples which made them improper for human consumption. The same author also demonstrated that 35% of samples were contaminated by thermotolerant fecal coliforms above the maximum limits.
The consumption of chicken meat and its derivates has recently increased considerably in Brazil due to price decrease, good quality and practical cuttings provided [70]. Per capita consumption increased from 10 kg to 35.4 kg, only slightly lower than beef consumption (União Brasileira de Avicultura) [71]. The products' quality is highly important and a great concern to health authorities, food industry and consumers. Chickens bred for human consumption may host several pathogenic microorganisms such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella sp and E. coli [72,73]. In their research in the northwestern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, others authors [74] found contamination by Salmonella in 16% of chicken sausages samples. The most relevant item in the above result may be the handling of the product during processing, coupled to the exposure of the meat to several contamination sources or to already contaminated chickens that provided the contamination of the final product.
The above authors researched the microbiological quality of industrialized avian products and their derivates in another region of the state of São Paulo. Research determined the presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella sp. Sausages samples analyzed were 42.8% positive for C. jejuni and 28.5% for Salmonella sp.
The presence of microorganisms in the above research works suggests the need for greater care during the handling and preparation of sausages that may be eaten in natura, without any heating treatment that would reduce the number of microorganisms causing toxin infections [75].
Vienna sausage may be defined as an industrialized meat-stuffed product obtained from the emulsion of animal meat to which are added a variety of ingredients and condiments, filling a natural or artificial casing, and submitted to proper thermal process [76]. Vienna sausages are highly popular in Brazil due to their low costs and for the manufacturing of the ubiquitous hot dog.
The physical and chemical characteristics of Vienna sausages should contain a maximum of 65% moisture, 30% fat, 2% starch, 7% total carbohydrates, 12% protein. Fresh sausages should be under permanent refrigeration (0 o C to 5 o C) from manufacture until consumption, with expiry period after 48 hours [77].
Vienna sausages samples of the hot-dog type were analyzed in Niterói and Rio de Janeiro RJ Brazil to detect thermotolerant coliforms, positive coagulase Staphylococcus, Clostridium spp and Salmonella spp by conventional methods with the necessary modifications [78]. When compared to health norms, results showed that 33% of samples were inadequate for consumption due to the presence of their isolated microorganisms.
Salami is another highly appreciated product in southern Brazil. Its homemade manufacture started in the early 20 th century with an enormous variety of industrialized types that differed in composition, casing, size of meat and fats, spices, smoking process and maturation period prior to commercialization. Researchers revaluated the various characteristics [79] of salamis produced by small-and medium-sized agro-industries in the southern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Listeria monocystogenes and E.coli were researched in the products. Although results did not identify contamination by Salmonella spp, the E. coli and S. aureus counts were significant, but within the reliability parameters.
Was analyzed the quality [80] of salami in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and verified that, despite samples with E. coli and fecal coliforms, all samples were within health standards. Nevertheless, 60% of samples were contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus and 22% were unhealthy for consumption.

Final considerations
Owing to their importance for public health, the correct handling of meat and milk products required greater attention, care and supervision from the competent health authorities. Since there is great cultural diversity in food manufactured in Brazil, the direct intervention of all the sectors involved within the food production chain is mandatory to warrant healthy and reliable products and thus a decrease in diseases caused by food contamination.