EN
Three traditional raw smoked meat products: Kump Nadbu¿añski, Kumpia Wieprzowa and raw smoked ham from a Masurian butcher, all manufactured in the north-eastern part of Poland, were examined. A total of 75 samples were examined in 5 test series of 5 samples of each product. The total viable count (TVC), presence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were identified in the tested samples. Sampling and the microbiological examinations mentioned above were performed according to the methodology specified in the Polish Standards. The average level of TVC in tested smoked meats varied (from 3.34 log cfu/g to 6.38 log cfu/g) depending on the type of product and the test series. It is worth mentioning that there were significant differences in the level of TVC in meat products of the same kind from different production batches: the most explicit differences were in Kump Nadbużański. None of the tested samples were positive for Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; however, Listeria monocytogenes was detected in two samples from one of the five series of studies of smoked ham from the Masurian butcher. This study indicates a minor role of the tested smoked meat products in the transmission of dangerous pathogens. Due to the small number of these specific product studies carried out in Poland, it is necessary to continue such testing.