Purpose: To evaluate the presence of Salmonella in plant-origin food products mainly imported to Greece and identify the different serotypes.
Methods: 1687 raw or processed food products of plant-origin were tested for the presence of Salmonella spp. in the accredited laboratory of the Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products during the period June 2008-December 2015. The majority of them (1575) were products tested to get permission for importing to Greece, whereas the remaining 112 were produced by Greek food enterprises. For the detection of Salmonella spp. the ISO 6579 (4th ed. 2002-07-15/Cor.1:2004) was applied. Further confirmatory and identification tests to species, subspecies and serovar level were performed in the National Reference Laboratory for Salmonella (Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food) accredited for the serotyping.
Results: 128 samples were found positive for Salmonella spp., while 6 samples were false positive. Specifically, Salmonella was detected in 92 out of 1091 sesame samples (92/1091), 18/160 pine nuts, 6/89 coconut, 4/5 paan leaves, 3/15 cocoa beans, 1/39 almond kernel, 1/5 chickpeas, 3/20 paprika samples. 127 isolates were identified as S. enterica subsp. enterica and 1 as S. enterica subsp. salamae. The S. enterica subsp. enterica isolates designated by their antigenic formula included Salmonella Virchow, Typhimurium, Kuessel, Wien, Oranienburg, Agona, Mikawasima, Hvittingfoss, Bredeney, Anatum, Senftenberg, Orion, Havana, Paratyphi B var. Java, Mbandaka, Liverpool, Telhashomer, Idikan, Brunei, Westhampton, Tennessee, Poona, Mountpleasant, Tilene, Kentucky, Amsterdam, Tilburg, Ruivu, Fresno, Bredeney, Montevideo, Ekotedo, Hongkong, Dallgow, Bergen and Kastrup.
Significance: The study indicated that several food products of plant origin constitute a potential hazard for human consumption.