MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF MIXED VEGETABLES SALAD COLLECTED FROM SELECTED AREAS OF PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA-PAKISTAN

Abstract

The current research was carried out to evaluate the microbiological quality of three (33) vegetable mixed salad procured form various vendors and areas in the Peshawar. The samples were assessed for mould count, coliform count and aerobic plate count (APC). The APC were range from 1 x 103 to 8 x 109 CFU/g, with 24 samples unacceptable, 4 samples marginally acceptable and 5 samples acceptable. The coliform bacteria were ranged from 1 x 102 to 6 x 108 CFU/g, with 6 samples marginally acceptable and 27 samples were unacceptable. The mould were counted and ranged from 800 to 3800 CFU/g, with 13 samples unacceptable and 20 samples were acceptable. Generally, the results exposed substantial microbial pollution in the examined samples, especially with respect to coliform count and APC. The findings specify insufficient sanitation practices and hygienic handling among some sellers and highpoint the essential for storage, proper handling, safe water and better hygiene of ready-to-eat vegetable salad in Peshawar.   

Key words: Disease, vegetables, bacterial contamination, coliform bacteria, sales point, consumer health.