Microbial evaluation of fresh, minimally-processed vegetables and bagged sprouts from chain supermarkets.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the bacterial and fungal quality of minimally-processed vegetables (MPV) and sprouts. A total of 116 samples of fresh-cut vegetables, ready-to-eat salads, and mung bean and wheat sprouts were randomly collected and analyzed. The load of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was minimum and maximum in the fresh-cut vegetables and fresh mung bean sprouts respectively, corresponding to populations of 5.3 and 8.5 log CFU/g. E. coli O157:H7 was found to be absent in all samples; however,  other E. coli strains were detected in 21 samples (18.1%), and Salmonella spp. were found in one mung bean (3.1%) and one ready-to-eat salad sample (5%). Yeasts were the predominant organisms and were found in 100% of the samples. Geotrichum, Fusarium, and Penicillium spp. were the most prevalent molds in mung sprouts while Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. were most frequently found in ready-to-eat salad samples. According to results from the present study, effective control measures should be implemented to minimize the microbiological contamination of fresh produce sold in Tehran, Iran.
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poorsina Street, PO Box 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran.
Maryam Zare
MZ
Jeddi
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poorsina Street, PO Box 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran ; Center for Air Pollution Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Kargar Street, Gol Building, Tehran, Iran.
Masud
M
Yunesian
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poorsina Street, PO Box 14155-6446, Tehran, Iran.
Mohamad Es'haghi
ME
Gorji
Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Azadi Street, Tehran, Iran.
Negin
N
Noori
Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poorsina Street, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Pourmand
Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poorsina Street, Tehran, Iran.
Gholam Reza Jahed
GR
Khaniki
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003132:Commerce; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000254:growth & development; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000382:microbiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development; D007492:Iran; D012475:Salmonella / Q000254:growth & development; D036226:Seedlings / Q000382:microbiology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000254:growth & development
Foodborne pathogen; Fungal contamination; Iran; Microbial safety; Mold; Sprouts