Microbiological quality of fruit salads in selected sites in Ermita, Manila area.

Abstract

This study aims to assess the microbiological quality of fruit salads sold in selected food establishments in Ermita, Manila. Fruit salad samples were bought in four food establishments in Ermita, Manila on May, 2013. The pH and temperature of the food samples were measured immediately after purchase. The food samples were immediately brought to the laboratory for the determination of their total microbial load and coliform count using the Most Probable Number (MPN) method and the detection of Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Result showed that food sample collected in food establishment C during the second batch of collection was positive for E. coli. No contamination of Salmonella was evident in any food items. All the food samples tested had total microbial loads below 10⁶ CFU/g. No significant differences on the total microbial load of the samples in the two study periods were observed.