1Agricultural Science Department Faculty of Technical and Vocational, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900, Muallim, Perak, Malaysia
2Crop Science Department Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
3Genebank and Seed Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), MARDI Headquarters, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Jel Classification: L65, L66, L72
Escherichia coli O157: H7 is classified as biological hazard that can produce a bloody diarrhea due to its toxins. While nitrate in vegetables is classified as a chemical hazard if ingested greater than limit and risk getting gastrointestinal cancer and methemoglobinaemia. A study was conducted to obtain the information on E. coli O157: H7 contamination and nitrate content in Butterhead lettuce from local suppliers. The number of colonies E. coli O157: H7 from the lettuce was enumerated using standard plate count and the nitrate content was measured using nitrate meter. From the experiment, it was found that E. coli O157: H7 contamination of Butterhead lettuce in Malaysia is still within the safe limit for the consumers while the nitrate content was distributed differently between leaf structures; midrib, outer adult leaf blade and young leaves. Lettuce midrib and outer adult leaf blade had a higher concentration of nitrate compared to the young leaves.
Escherichia coli O157H7, nitrate, Butterhead lettuce
