Microbiological quality of selected dried fruits and vegetables in Maseru, Lesotho

The increasing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables and for convenience foods is causing an expansion of the market share for minimally processed vegetables. Among the more common pathogenic microorganisms that can be transmitted to humans by these products are Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of a selection of minimally processed vegetables. A total of 181 samples of minimally processed leafy salads were collected from retailers in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Counts of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, psychrotrophic microorganisms, and Salmonella were conducted for 133 samples. L. monocytogenes was assessed in 181 samples using the BAX System and by plating the enrichment broth onto Palcam and Oxford agars. Suspected Listeria colonies were submitted to classical biochemical tests. Populations of psychrotrophic microorganisms >106 CFU/g were found in 51% of the 133 samples, and Enterobacteriaceae populations between 105 and 106 CFU/g were found in 42% of the samples. Fecal coliform concentrations higher than 102 CFU/g (Brazilian standard) were found in 97 (73%) of the samples, and Salmonella was detected in 4 (3%) of the samples. Two of the Salmonella-positive samples had <102 CFU/g concentrations of fecal coliforms. L. monocytogenes was detected in only 1 (0.6%) of the 181 samples examined. This positive sample was simultaneously detected by both methods. The other Listeria species identified by plating were L. welshimeri (one sample of curly lettuce) and L. innocua (2 samples of watercress). The results indicate that minimally processed vegetables had poor microbiological quality, and these products could be a vehicle for pathogens such as Salmonella and L. monocytogenes.

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Microbiological evaluation of certain fruits and vegetables marketed in the city of Kenitra-Morocco

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202131901112 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 319 ◽

pp. 01112

Author(s):

Rahma Erahioui ◽

Sultana Inekach ◽

Hassna Jaber ◽

Khadija Atfaoui ◽

Noureddine Rhaim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Microbiological Analysis ◽

Microbial Quality ◽

Total Absence ◽

Nutritional Qualities ◽

Raw Foods ◽

The City

Fruits and vegetables are essential for human health due to their nutritional qualities, but the consumption of raw foods leads to food safety problems as they are recognized as sources of transmission of infectious diseases. The objective of this work is to assess the microbiological quality of some fruits and vegetables marketed in the Kenitra city. The samples were purchased at the fruit and vegetable markets during the period from April to July 2018.The detection of microorganisms in the samples requires several steps which are weighing, dilution, isolation, enumeration and 'identification. The results of the microbiological analysis of fruits and vegetables studied show significant concentrations of the total aerobic mesophilic flora varies between 2.25 and 8.48 log10 CFU / ml, Concerning total coliforms the contamination rates vary between 1.92 and 8.42 log10UFC / ml, as well as the presence of fecal coliforms between 1.13 and 8.05 log10UFC / ml, in the same samples analyzed, strains such as: Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus and a total absence of salmonella and shegilla. In order to improve the safety and hygienic quality of fruits and vegetables, the application of good hygienic practices as well as continuous microbial quality control is necessary to protect the health of consumers.

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AVALIAÇÃO MICROBIOLÓGICA DE HORTALIÇAS E FRUTAS MINIMAMENTE PROCESSADAS COMERCIALIZADAS EM FORTALEZA (CE)

Boletim do Centro de Pesquisa de Processamento de Alimentos ◽

10.5380/cep.v23i1.1272 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

Author(s):

LAURA MARIA BRUNO ◽

ANA AMÉLIA MARTINS DE QUEIROZ ◽

ANA PAULA COLARES DE ANDRADE ◽

NATÁLIA MOURA DE VASCONCELOS ◽

MARIA DE FÁTIMA BORGES

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Minimally Processed ◽

Total Coliforms ◽

Vegetable Samples ◽

Fruit Samples ◽

Vegetables And Fruits ◽

Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus

Avaliou-se a qualidade microbiológica de 15 amostras de hortaliças/tubérculos e de 15 amostras de frutas minimamente processadas, comercializadas em Fortaleza (CE). Foram realizadas análises de coliformes fecais e totais, pesquisa de Salmonella sp., contagem total de bolores e leveduras, contagem de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva e contagem total de psicrotróficos. Detectou-se a presença de Salmonella em 66,6% das amostras de hortaliças/tubérculos e em 26% das de frutas. Foi verificado que 13,3% das amostras de hortaliças/ tubérculos apresentaram contagem de coliformes fecais acima do limite estabelecido pela legislação brasileira. Contagens elevadas de coliformes totais, de bolores e leveduras e de psicrotróficos também foram encontradas em ambos os produtos, indicando condições inadequadas de higiene durante o processamento, comprometendo seu armazenamento e sua qualidade microbiológica. MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS MINIMALLY PROCESSED MARKETED IN FORTALEZA (CE) Abstract The microbiological quality of 15 vegetables and 15 fruits minimally processed samples marketed in Fortaleza - CE (Brazil) was evaluated. The following analyses were carried out: total and fecal coliforms, Salmonella sp., total yeasts and moulds count, coagulase positive Staphylococcus count and total psychrotrophics count. Salmonella was detected in 66.6% of vegetable samples and 26% of fruit samples. Fecal coliforms count higher than legislation limit, it was verified in 13.3% of vegetable samples. High counts of total coliforms, yeasts and moulds and psychrotrophics were also found on both products, showing inadequate hygiene conditions during manufacturing, affecting storage and microbiological quality of minimally processed fruits and vegetables.

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Microbiological Quality of Nuts, Dried and Candied Fruits, Including the Prevalence of Cronobacter spp.

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10070900 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 900

Author(s):

Anna Berthold-Pluta ◽

Monika Garbowska ◽

Ilona Stefańska ◽

Lidia Stasiak-Różańska ◽

Tamara Aleksandrzak-Piekarczyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Plate Count ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Dried Fruits ◽

Food Borne ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

Cronobacter Species ◽

Yeasts And Molds

Cronobacter genus bacteria are food-borne pathogens. Foods contaminated with Cronobacter spp. may pose a risk to infants or immunocompromised adults. The aim of this study was to determine the microbiological quality of nuts, seeds and dried fruits with special emphasis on the occurrence of Cronobacter spp. Analyses were carried out on 64 samples of commercial nuts (20 samples), dried fruits (24), candied fruits (8), seeds (4), and mixes of seeds, dried fruits and nuts (8). The samples were tested for the total plate count of bacteria (TPC), counts of yeasts and molds, and the occurrence of Cronobacter spp. Cronobacter isolates were identified and differentiated by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragments Length Polymorphism) and RAPD-PCR (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA by PCR) analysis. TPC, and yeasts and molds were not detected in 0.1 g of 23.4%, 89.1%, and 32.8% of the analyzed samples. In the remaining samples, TPC were in the range of 1.2–5.3 log CFU g−1. The presence/absence of Cronobacter species was detected in 12 (18.8%) samples of: nuts (10 samples), and mixes (2 samples). The 12 strains of Cronobacter spp. included: C. sakazakii (3 strains), C. malonaticus (5), and C. turicensis (4). The results of this study contribute to the determination of the presence and species identification of Cronobacter spp. in products of plant origin intended for direct consumption.

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Effect of Selected Drying Methods and Emerging Drying Intensification Technologies on the Quality of Dried Fruit: A Review

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9010132 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 132

Author(s):

Milivoj Radojčin ◽

Ivan Pavkov ◽

Danijela Bursać Kovačević ◽

Predrag Putnik ◽

Artur Wiktor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Osmotic Dehydration ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Process Intensification ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Food Preservation ◽

Drying Methods ◽

Dried Fruits

Drying is one of the oldest methods for food preservation that removes the water from fruit and makes it available for consumption throughout the year. Dried fruits can be produced by small- and large-scale processors, which makes them a very popular food among consumers and food manufacturers. The most frequent uses of drying technology include osmotic dehydration, vacuum drying, freeze-drying and different combinations of other drying technologies. However, drying may provoke undesirable changes with respect to physiochemical, sensory, nutritional and microbiological quality. Drying process energy efficiency and the quality of dried fruits are crucial factors in fruit drying. Recently, innovative technologies such as ultrasound, pulsed electric field and high pressure may be used as a pretreatment or in combination with traditional drying technologies for process intensification. This could result in quality improvements of dried fruits and enhanced efficiency and capacity of the production process, with a positive impact on environmental and economic benefits.

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Microbiological Quality and Safety of Fruits and Vegetables from Open Market and Shopping Complex in Port Harcourt Metropolis

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety ◽

10.9734/ejnfs/2021/v13i230383 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 139-148

Author(s):

Patience C. Obinna-Echem

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Titratable Acidity ◽

Shopping Mall ◽

Microbial Count ◽

Open Market ◽

Port Harcourt ◽

Microbial Analysis ◽

And Staphylococcus Aureus

Aims: Physicochemical and microbiological quality of fruits and vegetables from open market and shopping mall in Port Harcourt metropolis were determined to ascertain the effect of the sales environment. Methodology: pH and titratable acidity (TTA) of bananas (Musa sapientum), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L) and cabbage (Brassica oleracae var. capitata L) were determined using standard analytical methods. Conventional microbiological method was used for the microbial analysis. Results: pH (4.30 - 6.00) and TTA (0.05 - 0.28% lactic acid) of samples from the two locations did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Aerobic colony count (ACC), Coliform, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, ranged from 4.49 – 5.96, 3.70 – 4.59, 3.69 - 4.39 and 3.68 – 4.17 Log10 CFU/g respectively for the shopping mall samples, and 6.14 - 6.19, 3.66 – 5.23, 4.60 – 5.66, and 3.69 – 5.15 Log10 CFU/g respectively for the open market samples. Salmonella was detected at a level of 3.74, 4.30 and 4.65 Log10 CFU/g respectively in banana from the shopping mall; and lettuce and cabbage from the open market. Mould growth for the open market samples ranged from 4.01 - 4.40 Log10 CFU/g. Shopping mall samples had no mould and yeast growth except for mould count of 4.29 Log10 CFU/g in banana and yeast count of 4.30 and 3.69 Log10 CFU/g in tomatoes and lettuce. Banana and lettuce from the open market had no yeast count, but tomatoes and cabbage had counts of 4.30 and 4.46 Log10 CFU/g respectively. Conclusion: Fruits and vegetables from the shopping mall generally had lower microbial count indicating the influence of the chilled storage environment. The detection of pathogens in the fruits and vegetables is unsatisfactory and can pose a health risk to consumers as well as the contamination of other produce.

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Microbiological quality of ready to hang enteral formulas

Aktuelle Ernährungsmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-2005-871149 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 30 (03) ◽

Author(s):

J Kehr ◽

B Morales ◽

P Contreras ◽

L Castillo ◽

W Aranda

Keyword(s):

Microbiological Quality ◽

Enteral Formulas

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Appraisal of Microbiological Quality of Food with Respect to Drinking Water in Punjab

Indian Journal Of Applied Research ◽

10.15373/2249555x/june2014/199 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Pandove G Pandove G ◽

◽

Sahota S Sahota S

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Quality Of Food

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Principles for construction of bioluminescent enzyme biotests for analysis of complex media

Доклады Академии наук ◽

10.31857/s0869-56524852229-233 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 485 (2) ◽

pp. 229-233

Author(s):

V. P. Kalyabina ◽

E. N. Esimbekova ◽

I. G. Torgashina ◽

K. V. Kopylova ◽

V. A. Kratasyuk

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Rapid Assessment ◽

Test System ◽

Maximum Sensitivity ◽

Toxic Chemicals ◽

Complex Media ◽

Luminescent Bacterium ◽

Chemical Safety ◽

Minimal Impact

We formulated the principles of designing bioluminescent enzyme tests for assessing the quality of complex media which consist in providing the maximum sensitivity to potentially toxic chemicals at a minimal impact of uncontaminated complex media. The developed principles served as a basis for designing a new bioluminescent method for an integrated rapid assessment of chemical safety of fruits and vegetables which is based on using the luminescent bacterium enzymes (NAD(P)H:FMN oxidoreductase and luciferase) as a test system.

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