La gestione della refrigerazione domestica: caratteristiche igienico-sanitarie di frigoriferi dell’Italia centro-settentrionale

This study aimed to provide information on the consumer management of refrigeratedfood. N° 469 interviews were carried out and the results obtained were subjected to descriptivestatistical analysis and further processed with the Multiple CorrespondenceAnalysis and Cluster Analysis. Five homogeneous groups were obtained. In each of thema significant number of refrigerators (60) were tested to assess the temperature and themicrobiological status (TVC, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp.). Listeriamonocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were not recovered; Listeria innocua was recovered(3.3%). Regarding the TVC values, the 30% of the tested refrigerators was classifiedas not appropriate (28.3%) or not acceptable (1.7%). Consumer education shouldbe focused in order to reduce foodborne disease. Only safety-conscious consumers can become active partners within the food safety chain.[...]