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Caggiano G, Marcotrigiano V, D’Ambrosio M, Marzocca P, Spagnuolo V, Fasano F, Diella G, Leone AP, Lopuzzo M, Sorrenti DP, Sorrenti GT, Montagna MT. Preliminary Investigation on Hygienic-Sanitary Quality of Food Vending Machines. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085557. [PMID: 37107839 PMCID: PMC10138457 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The consumption of hot drinks dispensed from vending machines has become a common practice, both in workplaces and during free time. Every day, millions of bulk drinks are sold, but the quality of the products distributed may not always be guaranteed, as it is related to many factors such as the quality of the water, the raw materials used, and the effectiveness of the equipment's cleaning system. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hygienic-sanitary requirements of hot drinks and vending machine surfaces. The investigation highlighted the microbial contamination of both coffee and vending machine surfaces. Although the "coffee break" is usually considered a moment of pleasure, apparently not subject to specific jurisdiction, the products dispensed can represent a health risk if the hygienic conditions are not fully respected. Therefore, official controls carried out by the Prevention Department represent a suitable way for evaluating and guaranteeing the hygienic-sanitary requirements, providing for corrective actions, when needed, to protect consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Caggiano
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (V.M.); Tel.: +39-080-5478475 (G.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Marcotrigiano
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Authority BT Barletta-Andria-Trani, 76125 Trani, Italy
- Correspondence: (G.C.); (V.M.); Tel.: +39-080-5478475 (G.C.)
| | - Marilena D’Ambrosio
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Piersaverio Marzocca
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Authority BT Barletta-Andria-Trani, 76125 Trani, Italy
| | - Valentina Spagnuolo
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Fasano
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giusy Diella
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Anna Paola Leone
- Freelance Biologist, Microbiological Laboratory, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Marco Lopuzzo
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Pio Sorrenti
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Authority BT Barletta-Andria-Trani, 76125 Trani, Italy
| | - Giovanni Trifone Sorrenti
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Authority BT Barletta-Andria-Trani, 76125 Trani, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Montagna
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
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