African Journal of
Food Science

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Food Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0794
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJFS
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 978

Full Length Research Paper

Hygienic and sanitary evaluation of minimally processed vegetables sold in public fairs in the Western Region of Paraná State, Brazil

Alexandre Carvalho de MOURA
  • Alexandre Carvalho de MOURA
  • University of the Federal Border South, Campus Royalty Pr. Agricultural Engineering doctoral program, Brazil.
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Fabiana Gisele da Silva PINTO
  • Fabiana Gisele da Silva PINTO
  • State University of West Paraná - UNIOESTE, Cascavel Pr Campus Dr in Microbiology, Brazil.
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Eliana Almeida Mira de BONA
  • Eliana Almeida Mira de BONA
  • Technique in the Itaipu Technological Park FoundationUNIOESTE, Campus Pastor Rattlesnake Master in Conservation And Management of Natural Resources, Brazil.
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Luciana Pagliosa Carvalho GUEDES
  • Luciana Pagliosa Carvalho GUEDES
  • State University of West Paraná - UNIOESTE, Cascavel Pr Campus Dr in Statistics, Brazil.
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Izabel Aparecida SOARES
  • Izabel Aparecida SOARES
  • Federal University of South Border Royalty Campus Brazil.
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  •  Received: 17 September 2013
  •  Accepted: 19 November 2013
  •  Published: 31 January 2014

Abstract

The microbiological quality of minimally processed vegetables sold in the public fairs of the numerous towns in the Western Region of Paraná State, Brazil, was studied. Lettuce, salad rocket, cabbage and chicory randomly collected were sent to the Food Analysis Laboratory (Lanali) in Cascavel, Brazil. The vegetables were analyzed for total and thermotolerant coliforms, aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Salmonella sp. Total coliforms were detected at different rates in all samples of vegetables analyzed. Cabbages from town 5 had the highest contamination rate (3.6x106 UFC/g) and the highest mean contamination rate (4.1x104 UFC/g) in terms of thermotolerant coliforms in 147 samples, at different count rates. In all the samples collected and analyzed, Salmonella sp. occurred in 10. Results show that vegetables sold in the public fairs in the Western Region of Paraná, Brazil were not good for human consumption due to feces-originated bacteria or high mesophilic counts. In fact, they are the possible sources of toxin and infections caused by pathogens.

Key words: Coliforms, Salmonella, vegetables.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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