1Department of Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), 30, Mother Teresa Sarani, Kolkata-700016, West Bengal, India
2Department of Microbiology, Sarsuna College (Under Calcutta University), 4/HB/A, Ho-Chi-Minh Sarani, Sarsuna Upanagari, Kolkata-700061, West Bengal, India
3Department of Biological Chemistry, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, 2A & 2B, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding author: souvikroy81@rediffmail.com
Online published on 7 December, 2018.
To assess the microbiological quality of cut cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) sold by itinerant roadside vendors in and around Kolkata, 25 such samples were collected over a two-months period during summer, and tested for total aerobic plate counts (TPCs), coliform and fecal-coliform (Escherichia coli) counts, and other food-borne pathogens. TPCs ranged from 5.093 to 7.477 log cfu/g, 18 samples out of which (72%) had counts >7 log cfu/g. Coliforms were detected in all 25 samples (100%). E. coli was detected in 23 of them (92%), having an average count of 140.80 MPN/g, with 18 samples (78.26%) showing counts >7 log cfu/g. Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae were detected in 12 (48%) and 1 (4%) of the total samples respectively, with 7 of the 12 samples of the former (58.33%), and the latter (100%) showing counts >7 log cfu/g respectively.
Coliform and fecal-coliform counts, cucumber, food-borne pathogens, roadside vendors, TPCs
