Survey of solid impurities of animal origin in confectionery products

A filth-test method suitable to detect solid impurities of animal origin in confectionery products coming from pastry shop and confectionery manufacturers was set up. On the whole 56 samples of confectionery products have been tested: biscuits (26 samples), brioches (17 samples), wafer for cannoli (13 samples); 3 replications were carried out for each sample. The presence of arthropods was observed in 39.7% of biscuits and in 33.3% of brioches and cannoli. Most of the identyfied fragments - thanks also ot their dimensions - are indicative of an insect infestation in the raw material, thus before processing. Rodents hair were found in one or two replications of 5.6% of the samples.