Meat and meat products are a major part of a person's ration. However, due to their high nutritional value, they are a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms and require refrigerated storage. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the storage methods for refrigerated and frozen beef by microbiological and chemical parameters and to suggest criteria for evaluating beef by the content of psychrotrophic microorganisms. It was found out that the storage of beef meat with an initial mesophilic bacterial content of about 4.88 log CFU.cm-2 of surface and psychrotrophic bacteria 3.79 log CFU.cm-2 at temperature 0 °C is only possible for 8 days, further, the microbiological indices exceed the acceptable standards. Investigation of the dynamics of microflora reproduction during the storage of beef in the frozen state at temperature -2 to -3 °C for 20 days established a decrease in 1.3 times the number of mesophilic bacteria in 10 days of storage. At the same time, the number of psychrotrophic microorganisms during this storage time was increased in 4.5 times, and 20 days in 7.9 times and amounted to 5.3 log CFU.cm-2 of surface area. This indicates that the storage of meat in the frozen state inhibits or completely stops the development of mesophilic microorganisms for 20 days. It was found out that storing of beef in the cooled state at a temperature of 0 ±0.5 °C for more than eight days is impractical, as its biochemical indices are worsening and signs of spoilage are appearing. At the same time, storing of beef in the frozen state at a temperature of -2 to -3 °C for 20 days does not cause such significant biochemical changes as in beef stored in the cooled state at a temperature of 0 ±0.5 °C for 16 days. Therefore, we have experimentally substantiated the quantitative indicators of the content of psychrotrophic microorganisms on the surface of beef intended for storage in a cooled or frozen state. The proposed microbiological criteria will improve the safety of beef.

The analysis of the results of radiological studies of food and feed conducted by the specialists of the state laboratories of the State Consumer Service for 2013–2019 is performed. The analyzed results show that in the territories assigned to the radiation contamination zones, samples with a radionuclide content exceeding the maximum admissible levels of 137Cs and 90Sr are constantly detected. Even 33 years after the Chernobyl accident, the specific activity of 137Cs in mushrooms and berries remains high. Specialists of the state laboratories of the State Consumer Service during this period carried out radiological examinations of food and feed for the contents of 137Cs and 90Sr. Exceedance of the maximum permissible levels (DR) of 137Cs was detected in 3.253 samples, of which 1.277 were fresh mushrooms and yagi and 729 were dried and dried mushrooms and berries. It is established that forest mushrooms and berries (fresh and dried) are the critical dose-forming foods, accounting for the largest proportion of about 62 % of the total positive samples. A much better situation was observed in detecting an excess of DR 90Sr. During the study period, contamination of 90Sr food and feed is of a single nature. The dynamics of detecting excesses of DR 137Cs in forest mushrooms and berries (fresh and dried) for 2013–2019 have significant fluctuations related to environmental conditions and the multidirectional migration of man-made radionuclides in forest ecosystems. The use, even in small quantities, of forest origin products with a maximum specific activity of 137Cs can play a significant role in the internal exposure of long-lived radionuclide to the local population. Therefore, the largest proportion of forest food products (62 %) is in the balance of radionuclide-contaminated products during the last seven years. (2013–2019) and other products and feeds are the basis for further radiological control by their state laboratories of the State Consumer Service.

Significant and unlimited use of antibacterial drugs, leads to their accumulation in the aquatic environment, tissues of fish, and, accordingly, in fish products. The problem of residual amounts of antibacterial drugs in raw materials and food products is relevant not only in Ukraine but also in the whole world. The purpose of the work was to conduct monitoring researches of frozen fish on the content of antibacterial substances residues. The presence of residual amounts of anti-bacterial substances was carried out by a screening method for the determination of antibiotics in products of animal origin РХ/МС/МС and the microbiological method. It was established that in the trading network frozen fish was sold, which contained 10.5 ± 0.3% of the remainder of the antibacterial substance. The most frequently imported frozen fish in Ukraine were antimicrobials from the group of antibiotics of the first generation aminoglycosides (apramicin, kanamycin, gentamicin, spectinomycin, paromomycin) – 46.4 ± 0.7% of cases and supply dixic acid at 19.0 ± 0.2%. In 11% of cases, in frozen fish, the remains of sulfamide antimicrobial agents – sulfaphenazole. Antibiotics of the penicillin number: penicillin, amoxicillin and nafcillin, despite the presence of antimicrobial activity, mainly in relation to gram-positive micro flora, were found in the total number of 11.1 ± 0.2% of cases. In the smallest number of samples of frozen fish, antibiotics of the tetracycline group – tetracycline in 1.6 ± 0.1% of cases were detected. The largest numbers of antibacterial substances were detected from 11.2 ± 0.2 to 14.4 ± 0.2% for argentine and flatfish species. In such pelagic species of fish as lakerda, mackerel, capelin and mackerel, antibiotics were detected in an equal number, in about 10% of the examined samples. Almost 8% of samples of frozen fish like salmon contain antibacterial substances. In addition, equally in 6.3 ± 0.2% of the examined samples, veterinary drugs were found in oceanic fish such as herring and red-eyed fish. In the smallest amount, up to 5% showed antimicrobial substances in sea fish such as dorado and pink salmon. The presences of antibacterial substances in the investigated fish samples, which are not stipulated by the EU Regulation No. 37/2010, have been identified. Consequently, there was a need to provide in the “State monitoring plan for residues of veterinary drugs, pollutants and toxicants in products of animal origin” a study to determine the residual amounts of antibacterial substances and antibiotics to increase the safety of fish imported into Ukraine.

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