Microbiological evaluation of fresh-cut organic vegetables produced in Zambia

This study was undertaken to assess the microbiological quality of fresh-cut organic vegetables produced in Zambia. Fresh-cut organic mixed vegetables and green beans produced in Zambia were analysed for aerobic plate counts, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and yeast and mould counts. The study included 160 samples for most of the parameters. The vegetables were grown on farms meant primarily for the export market. The vegetables were treated/washed with 150 μg ml-1 chlorine solution at the processing plant prior to sampling. The aerobic plate count ranged between 3 log10 and 9.7 log10 CFU/g, with the highest count recorded for green beans. The largest grouping (26.1%) of vegetable samples fell between 3 and 4 log10 CFU/g. Coliform counts were between 1.0 log10 and 7.7 log10 CFU/g. The highest incidence level was 31.4% for total coliform counts between 3 log10 and 4 log10 CFU/g. E. coli was only detected on mixed vegetables in the range of 0.6 log10 to 3 log10 CFU/g, while Enterobacteriaceae counts ranged between 1.6 log10 and 9.8 log10 CFU/g with the highest counts being found on green beans. The highest incidence level was of 25.8% for counts within the same range as the aerobic plate counts. Yeast and mould counts showed the highest incidence level between 5 log10 and 6 log10 CFU/g with an overall range between 1.5 log10 and 5.6 log10 CFU/g. L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp. and S. aureus were detected in 20%, 23.1% and 83.9% of samples, respectively. C. perfringens and B. cereus were not detected in any of the samples analysed. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.