Unhygienic Ice Cream Production Puts Public Health at Risk

Strategic Insights -

A recent study in Kocaeli, Turkiye, found that 41.5% of unpackaged plain ice cream samples contained Enterobacteriaceae, with mean counts around 2.3 log CFU/g. The study compared two enumeration methods, the ISO 21528-2 standard and the TEMPO system, and found no statistically significant difference between them. The research highlighted the critical need for stringent hygiene practices, cold chain maintenance, and HACCP implementation in street-vended ice cream production to ensure consumer safety.

Key Takeaways:

  • A total of 118 ice cream samples were analyzed in the study, with Enterobacteriaceae detected in 41.5% of samples.
  • Mean counts of Enterobacteriaceae were around 2.3 log CFU/g, with no significant difference between the ISO 21528-2 standard and the TEMPO system.
  • Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 4.2% of samples, with a mean count of 2.67 ± 0.15 log CFU/g.
  • No Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were detected, suggesting effective pathogen control likely due to pasteurization and hygiene measures.
  • The study validated the TEMPO EB system against ISO 21528-2 in unpackaged ice cream, demonstrating both excellent concordance and operational advantages.
  • The findings underscore the critical need for stringent hygiene practices, cold chain maintenance, and HACCP implementation in street-vended ice cream production.
  • The study was conducted by Adem Soycan and colleagues at the Kocaeli Food Control Laboratory Directorate, Microbiology Department, in Kocaeli, Turkiye.

Statistics:

  • 41.5% of ice cream samples contained Enterobacteriaceae.
  • Mean Enterobacteriaceae counts were around 2.3 log CFU/g.
  • 4.2% of samples contained Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Mean Staphylococcus aureus counts were 2.67 ± 0.15 log CFU/g.
  • No Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were detected.
  • 118 ice cream samples were analyzed in the study.

Sources:

  • "Enterobacteriaceae in unpackaged ice cream: Implications for microbial safety and methodological concordance between ISO and TEMPO". Journal of Microbiological Methods, 2025;238:107287.
  • Journal of Microbiological Methods can be contacted at: Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • NewsRx. New Enterobacteriaceae Study Findings Reported from Microbiology Department [Enterobacteriaceae in unpackaged ice cream: Implications for microbial safety and methodological concordance between ISO and TEMPO]. Life Science Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 2617.