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Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae in conventional and organic vegetables grown in Brazilian farms

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the microbiological profile of conventional and organic vegetables grown in Brazilian farms through the detection of Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae. A total of 200 samples (100 conventional and 100 organic), including leafy greens, spices/herbs, and other unusual vegetables, were submitted to the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae by plating on VRBG agar. Moreover, colonies of Enterobacteriaceae were randomly selected and submitted to identification by MALDI-TOF MS. Samples were also tested for Salmonella, using culture-based and PCR-based enrichment methods. The mean counts of Enterobacteriaceae in conventional and organic vegetables were 5.1 ± 1.5 and 5.4 ± 1.4 log CFU/g, respectively (P > 0.05). A total of 18 genera (including 38 species) of Enterobacteriaceae were identified, and the most frequent ones found in samples from both farming systems were Enterobacter (76%) and Pantoea (68%). Salmonella was identified in 17 samples (8.5%): nine (4.5%) in conventional and eight (4.0%) in organic vegetables. These results indicate that the farming system had no impact on the Enterobacteriaceae populations and rates of Salmonella and revealed unsatisfactory microbiological safety of some samples, mainly due to the presence of Salmonella. These findings highlight the need for control measures during vegetable production, regardless of the farming system, to reduce microbial contamination and the risks of foodborne illnesses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are also grateful for the use of DEMPSTER MS Lab, Polytechnic School — University of Sao Paulo, for the MALDI-TOF MS analysis.

Funding

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) provided funding through grant #2013/07914–8 and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through grants #434469/2018–1 and #103204/2019–9.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agri-Food Industry, Food and Nutrition, Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP, CP9, 13418-900, Brazil

    Nicolle F. A. Padovani, Thiago S. Santos, Priscila Almeida, Aline S. M. Cesar & Daniele F. Maffei

  2. Dempster MS Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnic School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Meriellen Dias & Maria Anita Mendes

  3. Food Research Center (FoRC-CEPID), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Daniele F. Maffei

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  1. Nicolle F. A. Padovani
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Padovani, N.F.A., Santos, T.S., Almeida, P. et al. Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae in conventional and organic vegetables grown in Brazilian farms. Braz J Microbiol 54, 1055–1064 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-023-00934-2

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