Category Archives: Coliforms

RASFF Alert – Coliforms – Bottled Water

Posted on July 19, 2024 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Coliforms detected in a batch of bottled spring water from Ireland in the UK

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Posted in Coliforms, food recall, product recall, RASFF, Recall, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

RASFF Alert- Coliforms – Natural Mineral Water

Posted on July 5, 2024 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Presence of coliforms in low-mineral natural mineral water from Italy in Ireland

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Posted in Coliforms, Contaminated water, food recall, product recall, RASFF, Recall, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Comparison of Three Air Sampling Methods for the Quantification of Salmonella, Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), Coliforms, and Generic E. coli from Bioaerosols of Cattle and Poultry Farms

Posted on May 22, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

Abstract

Recent fresh produce outbreaks potentially associated with bioaerosol contamination from animal operations in adjacent land highlighted the need for further study to better understand the associated risk. The purpose of this research was to evaluate three sampling methods for quantifying target bacterial bioaerosols from animal operations. A dairy cattle and poultry farm located in Georgia, U.S. were visited six times each. Air was collected for 10 min using: 2-stage Andersen impactor with and without mineral oil overlay and impingement samplers. Sampling devices were run concurrently at 0.1, 1, and 2 m heights (n = 36). Andersen samplers were loaded with CHROMagar™ Salmonella, CHROMagar™ STEC, or Brilliance™ coliforms/E. coli. The impingement sampler contained buffered peptone water (20 mL) which was vacuum filtered through a 0.45 µm filter and placed onto the respective media. Plates were incubated at 37 ℃ for 48 h. PCR confirmation followed targeting ttr for Salmonella and stx1, stx2, and eae genes for STEC. No significant differences were found among methods to quantify coliforms and E. coli. Salmonella and STEC bioaerosols were not detected by any of the methods (Limit of detection: 0.55 log CFU/m3). E. coli bioaerosols were significantly greater in the poultry (2.76–5.00 log CFU/m3) than in the cattle farm (0.55–2.82 log CFU/m3) (p < 0.05), and similarly distributed at both stages in the Andersen sampler (stage 1:>7 μm; stage 2: 0.65–7 μm particle size). Sampling day did not have a significant effect on the recovery of coliforms/E. coli bioaerosols in the poultry farm when samples were taken at the broiler house exhaust fan (p > 0.05). A greater and constant emission of coliforms and E. coli bioaerosols from the poultry farm warrants further investigation. These data will help inform bioaerosol sampling techniques which can be used for the quantification of bacterial foodborne pathogens and indicator organisms for future research.

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Posted in Bioaerosol, Coliforms, E.coli, Food Microbiology Research, Food Technology, Research, Salmonella, STEC, STEC E.coli, Technology

Research – Preliminary Investigation towards the Use of Infrared Technology for Raw Milk Treatment

Posted on April 13, 2024 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

Infrared (IR) technology offers a promising solution for reducing microbiological loads in various food types while preserving their quality traits, such as flavour. However, research on IR’s application in complex matrices is limited. Therefore, our preliminary study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in sanitizing bovine raw milk. We assessed the bacterial count before and after IR treatment by comparing volatile organic compound profiles via headspace extraction and GC/MS analysis. Our findings showed that higher energy levels led to a greater bacterial reduction. IR85 was the most effective in reducing Coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae in non-homogenised samples, with a reduction ranging from −1.01 to >−2.99 and from −1.66 to −3.09 Log CFU/mL, respectively. IR60 and 70 showed no efficacy, while IR80 had intermediate but still satisfactory effect. IR85 notably affected volatile compounds, particularly increasing hexanal (from 0.08 to 4.21 ng g−1) and dimethyl sulphone (from 10.76 to 26.40 ng g−1), while IR80 better preserved the aroma profile. As a result, only IR80 was tested with homogenised raw milk, demonstrating significant bacterial reduction (from >2.39 to 3.06 Log CFU/mL for Coliforms and from 1.90 to >2.45 Log CFU/mL for Enterobacteriaceae) and maintaining the aroma profile quality.

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Posted in Coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Food Microbiology Research, Raw Milk, Raw Milk Butter, raw milk cheese, Raw Milk Cream, Raw Milk Goats Cheese, Research

Research – Surveillance and source tracking of foodborne pathogens in the vegetable production systems of India

Posted on March 20, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

Abstract

Fresh vegetables are prone to foodborne pathogen infection due to improper cultivation methods and poor post-harvest handling practices. This paper describes the prevalence of foodborne pathogens in three vegetables (tomato, brinjal, and lablab) cultivated by small-scale producers of India. We assessed the possible entry of pathogens into the vegetable production chain. Samples from soil, manure, irrigation water, harvesting bins, and workers’ hands were assessed as sources of possible pathogen entry. In addition, further sampling was done to determine prevalence of these pathogens in the produce from the agricultural fields and markets. Total plate counts, yeast and mold count, total coliforms like general microbial indices, and possible foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Norovirus were assessed in all the samples by standard microbiological, biochemical, and molecular methods. The results revealed that among the three vegetables we studied, brinjal had the highest load of general microbial indicators. Moreover, the total coliforms count of market vegetables was higher than that of on-farm vegetables, indicating poor hygiene in post-harvest operations. The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in the market tomatoes (0.35 log10 cfu/g), and E. coli was detected in the market samples of brinjal (2.98–3.89 log10 cfu/g) and lablab (0.59–2.21 log10 cfu/g), thereby revealing fecal cross-contamination during pre or post-harvest operations. None of the vegetable samples were contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., and norovirus. However, the microbiological source tracking of primary production farms showed that E. coli O157:H7 was present in manure (9/27), soil (6/27), harvest bins (6/27), and irrigation water samples (3/27) of SSP farms. In addition, soil (33%), manure (11%), and harvest bins (11%) had Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In conclusion, our study suggests that adequate knowledge of good agricultural practices for small-scale producers to cultivate microbiologically safe vegetable production and proper handling strategies for vegetable vendors is crucial to mitigate foodborne pathogen outbreaks through fresh vegetables.

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Posted in Coliforms, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, mold, Mould/Mold, Norovirus, Pathogen, pathogenic, Pseudomonas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Research, Salmonella, TVC

Research – Effect of Treatment with Heated Scallop Shell Powder on the Inactivation of Naturally Existing Bacteria and Listeria monocytogenes Inoculated on Chicken Meat

Posted on January 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

This study investigated the efficacy of heated scallop shell powder (HSSP) treatment in preserving chicken thigh meat. Chicken thigh meat was treated with HSSP slurry (1% and 5%) for 60 min, and the variation in aerobic bacteria and coliform populations was assessed during refrigerated storage (10 °C). There was a substantial increase in aerobic bacteria, reaching nearly 7 log10 colony forming unit (CFU)/g following 7 days of refrigeration, in the untreated chicken meat. Conversely, the aerobic bacterial population of the HSSP-treated chicken was <5 log10 CFU/g. Coliform growth in the untreated chicken reached over 5 log10 CFU/g following 7 days. In contrast, the coliform population of the HSSP-treated chicken did not reach 5 log10 CFU/g at 1% HSSP concentration; it was suppressed to <4 log10 CFU/g at 5% concentration. Listeria monocytogenes, which can grow at low temperatures, was inoculated into the chicken meat (5 log10 CFU/g) treated with alcohol, which was followed by HSSP. In the untreated chicken, L. monocytogenes increased to 9 log10 CFU/g even when refrigerated for 7 days. However, in the chicken treated with 5% HSSP, L. monocytogenes was suppressed to approximately 3 log10 CFU/g. These findings reveal that HSSP treatment is an effective method for disinfecting meat, inhibiting bacterial growth, and enhancing preservation.

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Posted in Coliforms, Food Microbiology Research, Food Technology, Heated scallop shell powder (HSSP), Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Research, Technology

Ireland – Kildare café closed due to evidence of E coli in the drinking water

Posted on November 13, 2023 by | Leave a comment

The Independent

A closure order was issued on October 26 as the drinking water supply was found to pose “grave and immediate danger to public health”

A Kildare café was among five businesses around Ireland that were served with closure orders by the Food Safety Authority in October.

Base Coffee, at The Mart, on Newbridge Road in Kilcullen, County Kildare, was served the order on October 26, after the FSAI inspectors had “concerns of grave and immediate danger to public health.”

The reasons for closure as stated in the FSAI food hygiene inspection report was that “a drinking water sample taken on October 24 2023 from the food business indicated that the supply [was] contaminated.”

According to the inspection report: “Coliforms, Enterococci and E coli were detected in the drinking water sample. Given these levels of contamination, the drinking water supply pose a grave and immediate danger to public health.”

Other premises which were closed in October included: Indian Spices (restaurant/café), 138 Parnell Street, Dublin 1; Mizzoni Pizza (takeaway), 12 Railway Street, Navan, Meath; Seasons Chinese, Bridge Street, Strokestown, Roscommon.

Meanwhile, one Prohibition Order was served under the Eurpoean Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 on: Meghans Café, 8 Cecilia Street, Dublin 2.

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Posted in Coliforms, Contaminated water, E.coli, Enterococcus, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – ‘Overlooked’ problem of bacteria in fast-food soda fountains. How risky is that drink?

Posted on October 10, 2023 by | Leave a comment

USA Today

Scientists in Southern California are asking the kind of questions that make soda drinkers uneasy after a recent study that found fast-food soda fountains were serving up high levels of bacteria along with self-serve drinks.

Researchers from Loma Linda University found bacteria levels that surpassed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations for drinking water at fast-food restaurants in the eastern Coachella Valley, where largely low-income, Latino farmworker families have struggled with accessing potable water.

The study, published in August in the journal Drinking Water, found more than 40% of water samples from fast-food soda fountains had coliforms present, an indicator of contamination. The study calls into question the sanitation and maintenance of water from soda fountains, which rely on government and manufacturer standards.

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Posted in Coliforms, Contaminated water, E.coli, Food Microbiology Research, Research, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA- Ruby Mountain Spring Water recalled after testing finds Coliforms

Posted on September 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Ruby Mountain Spring Water of Winnemucca, NV, is recalling their brand of 3 and 5-gallon plastic water jugs because the firm’s sample revealed positive findings for coliforms.

According to the details posted online by the FDA, the recall was initiated on Aug. 1, 2023, and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in Nevada.

Recalled product:

  • Ruby Mountain Spring Water 3 and 5-gallon plastic water jugs
  • Product Quantity: 1,350 bottles

Anyone who purchased the recalled product should immediately dispose of it and not consume it.

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Posted in Coliforms, Contaminated water, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Toxin, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Cheese curds sold in Iowa recalled because of elevated Coliform count and E. coli

Posted on August 30, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Moore Family Farms Creamery of Maquoketa, IA, is recalling various cheese curds because they may contain an elevated coliform count and generic E. coli.

According to the details posted by the FDA, the recall was initiated on July 28, 2023 is ongoing.

Though products are past their expiration dates, there is always concern consumers have already consumed the product and become ill or they could have product in their freezers.

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Posted in Coliforms, E.coli, FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing