Investigating the Ways of Displaying Eggs, Dairy Products, and Meat in the Markets of Mosul City, Iraq

The aim of the present study was to investigate ways of displaying food products of animal origin in the markets of Mosul city, to assess the level of applying of food safety practices in these markets. The results of the study showed significant proportions of food products (red meat, chicken, dairy products, eggs) offered in the markets of Mosul city (right and left sides) at room temperature. As out of the 400 food products of animal origin that were audited, 151 are offered for sale at room temperature which constitute 37.8% of the total audited samples. While 32.8% of the audited food products were offered for sale at refrigerator temperature. As for freezing, it was limited to red and white meat only, as the percentage of these products was 29.4% of the total samples preserved in this way. As 89% of the table eggs displayed for sale in the markets of Mosul city were at room temperature. The percentage of white meat preserved and displayed in the markets was 87%, by freezing method. There were no significant differences between the markets of the left and right-side regions in terms of displaying or preserving food products of animal origin at room temperature, refrigeration or freezing (P > 0.05). The public health surveillance system can have benefit from these results by noting the weaknesses in the food safety practices application in the markets of Mosul city, Iraq.