Abstract: 50 packed frozen beef meatballs which commercially marketed in Assiut City were collected for the
occurrence of Aeromonas spp., Yersinia spp., Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp. Other bacteriological aspects;
aerobic plate count (APC), total Staph. aureus, pshycrotrophic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria were also
counted. In addition, adulteration of donkey meat in this product was determined by polymerase chain reaction
(PCR). The achieved results revealed that the mean APC, total Staph. aureus, psychrotrophic count and
anaerobic bacterial count of frozen beef meatballs were 5x106, 9x102, 1x106 and 6x102 CFU/g, respectively.
32%, 48%, 54 and 4% of samples were positive for the presence of Aeromonas spp., Yersinia spp., Listeria spp.
and Salmonella spp., respectively. Assay of PCR revealed that the adulteration rate was 20% (2/10) for donkey
meat in frozen meatballs. In conclusion, most of the examined frozen meatball samples revealed high levels of
microbial contamination. Therefore, this product represent public health hazards considering the incidence of
food poisoning microorganisms such as A. hydrophila, Y. enterocolitica, L. monocytogenes, S. Typhimurium
and S. Enteritidis. Moreover, it was concluded that there was adulteration of meatballs, in which inferior
quality and illegal donkey meat is mixed into beef. It was recommended that the generally acceptable microbial
guideline value for pshycrotrophic bacteria of frozen meatballs (kofta) set at <106
cfu/g be adapted locally until
more precise microbial criteria for Egyptian frozen meatballs are be established. Also, it was recommended that
applying PCR for fast, easy, and reliable control of adulteration and fraud in meat products in Egypt.
Keywords: Bacteriological status, frozen meatball, adulteration, donkey meat, PCR