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Microbial evaluation of minimally processed vegetables and sprouts produced in Seoul, Korea

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of some minimally processed vegetables. A total of 345 samples of minimally processed vegetables were acquired at a department store, a local supermarket, and a restaurant in Seoul, Korea. Samples were tested for microorganism distributions and for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The aerobic mesophilic counts ranged between 2.0 and 9.7 log CFU/g, with the highest count recorded from the sprouts. Counts of psychrotrophic microorganisms were as high as those of the mesophilic microorganisms. Total coliform populations between 1.0 and 8.8 log CFU/g were found in 98.3% of the samples. Microbiological counts for fresh-cut fruits were very low. Sprouts were highly contaminated with microorganisms and showed a high incidence of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringence. Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes were detected in 1.5 and 0.3% of samples, respectively. E. Coli O157:H7 and Yersinia enterocolitica were not detected in any of the samples.

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Correspondence to Kwang-Deog Moon.

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Seo, YH., Jang, JH. & Moon, KD. Microbial evaluation of minimally processed vegetables and sprouts produced in Seoul, Korea. Food Sci Biotechnol 19, 1283–1288 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-010-0183-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-010-0183-y

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