A study on the Microbial quality of fresh fruit juices sold around schools and colleges in Chennai
*1S. Irfana Tabassum, 1Amthul Azeez and 2K. Kavitha
1PG & Research Department of Zoology, Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women, Chennai - 600018 {India} 2Department of Microbiology, Madras Christian College, Chennai - 600059 {India} *Corresponding author:irfanavaseem@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Millions of people consume fruit juices sold by street vendors in developing countries. There are manyhealth benefits in consumption of fruit juices as they are rich in nutrients. Contamination of fruit juices by pathogenic microbes has led to outbreaks of food borne diseases. Poor sanitation and unhygienic practices of the street vendors is the major cause of these outbreaks. In this study, fresh fruit juices sold by street vendors outside schools and colleges in Chennai city were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The microbiological quality of all the samples analyzed was found to be poor. Asperigillus niger {28%} was the dominant fungi isolated in this studyfollowed by Mucor spp {10%}, Penicillium spp {12%}, Aspergillus fumigatus {8%} and Rhizopus spp {8%}. All the samples showed the presence of yeast. Bacillus spp {56%} was the leading bacteria isolated from the samples tested followed by Escherichia coli {20%}, Klebsiella pneumoniae {8%} and Pseudomonas aeruginosa {4%}. Regular monitoring of fruit juices sold by street vendors is essential to avoid food borne disease outbreaks. While fruit juice shop locations which are prone to contamination should be avoided.