Purpose: The present study was planned to assess safety and quality of multiple food products available under one roof with huge diversity and to evaluate the perishability, traceability, packaging material, transportation and supply chain management practices to assure farm to fork approach.
Methods: Survey study was conducted through structured questionnaire at hypermarkets to identify food safety issues regarding supply chain, transportation, traceability, packaging material and perishability of food products. To determine the incidence of microbial load and some pathogens in perishable food products, a total of 170 sample (48 meat, 65 chicken sandwiches burger and 57 butter cream pastries) were aseptically collected from different display points, transportation vehicles and suppliers. Microbial analysis (TPC, Coliform, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella and yeast and mold) was done according to standard protocol of FDA within 4 hours of collection in microbiology lab, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore-Pakistan.
Results: To ensure traceability of food products was observed as major problem followed by inadequate and poor supply chain management practices especially unhygienic conditions of food carrying vehicles. No severe microbial proliferation was noted in the present study. Overall, the microbial status of food products was slightly good with 77.86% samples yielding acceptable results. While 10.65% samples were found unsatisfactory and 3.27% samples were potentially hazardous. Presence of Salmonella and Staphylococcus in chicken sandwich burgers indicated an alarming situation for final consumers.
Significance: The research findings will help quality department of hypermarkets, food suppliers, food transporters and food regulatory authorities to identify possible sources of contamination and take appropriate actions to ensure availability of safe food products in the market.