https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2024.12235

Behind the scenes of taste: an exploratory study of non-compliance in Italian artisanal bakery and pastry laboratories

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2024)
Submitted: 27 December 2023
Accepted: 17 June 2024
Published: 2 August 2024
Food hygiene, food safety culture, microenterprises, small enterprises, non-conformities
Abstract Views: 708
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Authors

Sarah Currò
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy.
Stefania Balzan
stefania.balzan@unipd.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3384-7665
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy.
Valentina Saccarola
Confartigianato Imprese Vicenza – FAIV, Vicenza, Italy.
Federico Fontana
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy.
Enrico Novelli
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy.
Luca Fasolato
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy.

This study aimed to identify critical issues in artisanal bakery and pastry production in Italy that could improve food safety and quality. Fifteen voluntary Italian companies underwent on-site inspections and interviews from 2018 to 2021. The inspection concerned the production site characteristics, processing flows, materials, and personnel to pinpoint potential product contamination and record objective data collection through a 126-question demerit scoring system. The examined areas encompassed various aspects, such as the point of sale, management of raw materials and packaging, hygiene practices, finished product quality, sanitization procedures, external spaces, personnel, and other factors impacting food safety and hygiene. Additionally, assessments of the microbiological air quality were carried out. Two cohorts (six and nine companies in 2018-2019 and in 2020-2021, respectively) revealed critical issues in warehouse/packaging (70% non-compliance), finished product/cooling (50% non-compliance), and people/products flow (38% non-compliance). Site visits identified pest management and raw material handling challenges. Significant airborne mold and yeast contamination (30-50 colony-forming units/plate/h) were observed in areas near processing sites or with air turbulence. This study facilitated constructive discussions and proposed solutions with the participating companies.

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How to Cite

1.
Currò S, Balzan S, Saccarola V, Fontana F, Novelli E, Fasolato L. Behind the scenes of taste: an exploratory study of non-compliance in Italian artisanal bakery and pastry laboratories. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2024 Aug. 2 [cited 2024 Dec. 21];13(4). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/12235
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