Monitoring of health and hygiene parameters in the Carabinieri's collective catering facilities

Hygiene and health parameters were monitored at several Carabinieri canteens in central and southern Italy to assess the management aspects related to collective catering services. Between February 2024 and March 2025, 89 food matrices normally served in 23 canteens located in six Italian regions were subjected to microbiological assessment. Food sample aliquots (100-150 g) were sterilely collected and tested for total mesophilic count (TMC) and, using qualitative and quantitative detection methods, pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157, and Salmonella spp. Suspicious colonies were identified using the Vitek 2 system (bioMérieux, Paris, France) and confirmed by performing end-point polymerase chain reaction assays. Statistical analysis calculated the following parameters: mean, standard deviation (SD), Shapiro-Wilk test, and the two-tailed t-test (p<0.05). The mean TMC value was 2.65 log CFU/g (SD=1.21); more specifically, the highest [3.22 log CFU/g (SD=1.36)] was observed in Puglia, while the lowest [1.74 log CFU/g (SD= 0.63)] was observed in Molise. The t-test showed statistically significant differences in TMC values among the following regions: Abruzzo-Puglia (p=0.038), Campania-Marche (p<0.001), and Lazio-Campania (p=0.04). The three tested pathogens (L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157, and Salmonella spp.) were never observed. This work and the data obtained provide a picture of the good hygiene and health status of the Carabinieri canteens in central and southern Italy; however, the anthropogenic bacterial detection highlights the importance of the correct application of good hygiene practices to ensure the protection of the health of the military community.