Microbiological quality of packaged sprouts from supermarkets in Mumbai, India

Abstract

A survey to assess the potential public health risk related to consumption of minimally processed sprouts was conducted in retail establishments in Mumbai, India. A total of 80 sprout (40 mixed sprout and 40 alfalfa sprout) samples procured from two different supermarkets were tested for aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count (CC), staphylococcal count (SC) and for the presence of pathogens viz. Yersinia, Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus. APC, CC and SC for mixed and alfalfa sprouts were in the range of 7-8 log CFU/g, 6-8 log CFU/g and 3-5 log CFU/g, respectively. Salmonella, Y. enterocolitica, L. monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and coagulase positive S. aureus were not detected in any of the samples analysed. Results from this study show that the packaged sprouts stored at low temperature (<8°C) in the supermarkets in Mumbai, India are of good microbiological quality and free from pathogens.