Growth of Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus in Retail Pumpkin Pies1

1981 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 418-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. JANE WYATT ◽  
V. H. GUY

The ability of pumpkin pies as prepared and distributed in the food distribution system to support growth of selected food pathogens was studied. Products were puchased from a cross-section of retail outlets. Microbial quality of the products was determined. One of four samples contained high levels of coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples. Samples were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium and S. aureus and incubated at 4, 25 and 35 C. Water activity (aw), pH and S. aureus enterotoxin were measured. Pumpkin pies supported growth of the pathogens at 25 and 35 C. Data revealed if contaminated and held at room temperature, pumpkin pies could present a public health hazard. Growth of pathogens is inhibited at refrigeration temperatures. Enterotoxin was present in samples containing S. aureus. Potassium sorbate (0.25%) inhibited growth of S. typhimurium but not S. aureus. Refrigeration is recommended for pumpkin pies to eliminate the possible health hazard.

1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 872-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. RITTER ◽  
J. O'LEARY ◽  
B. E. LANGLOIS

Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens. Salmonella choleraesuis, and Salmonella typhimurium were inoculated (108 cells or spores) into two slow cookers containing green bean casserole, baked navy beans, chicken cacciatore, barbecued ribs or pork pot roast, and their fate determined after cooking. Heating patterns also were determined at three positions inside the two cookers. None of the foods cooked in either of the slow cookers contained detectable levels of S. aureus or salmonellae. The similarity between C. perfringens vegetative and spore counts indicate that only spores were present in the cooked foods. Except for the green bean casserole cooked using a low temperature setting, cooking resulted in a 0.44–1.67 and 0.36–1.54 log count reduction, respectively, of vegetative cells and spores of C. perfringens. Counts of vegetative cells and spores after cooking the green bean casserole were approximately .18 and .30 log counts higher than the uncooked counts. The mean times for the coldest areas in Cooker A to reach 50 C were 2.57 and 0.97 h, respectively, for the low (80 watts) and high (160 watts) temperature settings. The mean times for the coldest areas in Cooker B (removable liner) to reach 50 C were 2.35 and 0.52 h for the low (130 watts) and high (260 watts) temperature settings, respectively. Results suggest that when the recommended quantities of ingredients are used and the proper cooking procedure followed, foods prepared in the slow cookers studied do not present a health hazard.


1994 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 431-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
MOHAMMED I. YAMANI ◽  
BASIM A. AL-DABABSEH

Sixty samples of fresh hoummos (chickpea dip) from 15 restaurants were examined in winter and summer to find out numbers and types of microorganisms present. Five reference samples, produced by the investigators under hygienic conditions, were examined for comparison. The microbial load of commercial hoummos was high, and spherical lactic acid bacteria (LAB) belonging to Lactococcus, Enterococcus and Leuconostoc were the predominant microorganisms. The means of the aerobic plate count (APC) and the counts of LAB and coliforms (1.9 × 108, 1.6 × 108 and 2.9 × 105/g, respectively) in summer samples were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than the averages of the same counts in winter samples (2.7 × 107, 1.6 × 107 and 2.2 × 103/g). The average summer and winter yeast counts were 4.2 × 104 and 1.5 × 104g, respectively. In reference samples of hoummos, APC and LAB counts were < 103/g, while the coliform and yeast counts were < 10/g and 102/g, respectively, indicating lack of hygienic practices during the production of commercial hoummos. Salmonella was not detected in any sample, and Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus counts of all samples were < 10/g. The relatively low pH of hoummos (the average pH of all samples was 5.1) and the rapid growth of LAB, possibly accompanied by production of inhibitory substances, may explain the predominance of these bacteria, and could have contributed to the absence of the pathogens examined.


1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 464-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. STILES ◽  
L.-K. NG

Ham and chopped ham from two manufacturers were contaminated with five enteropathogens: Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus, at time of slicing and vacuum-packaging, to simulate contamination by manufacturer. Subsequent treatment of the samples, representing sound and undesirable retail handling and consumer use conditions, indicated marked differences in the fate of the pathogens between these products and within product type between the two manufacturers. Greatest differences were observed between the chopped ham products. All pathogens, except C. perfringens, grew actively in fresh ham and chopped ham with abusive holding at 30 and 21 C. After storage at 4 or 10 C for 30 days, B. cereus and C. perfringens were no longer detected, even after subsequent holding at 30 or 21 C for 24 h. E. coli survival and growth was variable, S. typhimurium survived well and grew under some conditions and S. aureus was generally inhibited at high levels of competition.


1983 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 1211-1216 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. BAKER ◽  
S. HOGARTY ◽  
W. POON ◽  
D.V. VADEHRA

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