Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 during sprouting of alfalfa seeds.
OBJECTIVE
Escherichia coli O157:H7 was monitored daily during sprouting of alfalfa seeds inoculated at high (3.92 log10 cfu g(-1)) and low (1.86 log10 cfu g(-1)) levels to assess the extent of pathogen growth during production.


RESULTS
Sprouts and rinse water were tested by direct and membrane filter plating on modified sorbitol MacConkey agar and BCM O157:H7(+) agar; the antibody-direct epifluorescent filter technique; and rapid immunoassays. The pathogen reached maximum populations after one and two days of sprouting seeds inoculated at high and low levels, respectively; in either case, populations of 5-6 log10 cfu g(-1) were reached. Detection limits of two rapid immunoassays, Reveal and VIP, without enrichment were determined to be 5-7 log10 cfu ml(-1).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show the ability of E. coli O157:H7 to grow to high levels during sprouting; however, because these levels may be below detection limits, it is necessary to include enrichment when monitoring sprout production for E. coli O157:H7 by the rapid test kits.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that sprouts may harbor high levels of pathogens. The appropriate use of rapid test methods for pathogen monitoring during sprouting is indicated.
Stewart
D
D
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Food Safety and Technology, 6502 South Archer Road, Summit-Argo, IL 60501, USA.
Reineke
K
K
Ulaszek
J
J
Fu
T
T
Tortorello
M
M
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000382:microbiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology; D013696:Temperature; D014871:Water Microbiology