Microbiological contamination of fruits and vegetables in major Slovenian grocery chains

Uvod: Tveganja za mikrobiološko onesnaženje svežega sadja in zelenjave se pojavljajo v vseh fazah njegove pridelave, od polja/sadovnjaka do mize potrošnika. Pri zagotavljanju varnega sadja in zelenjave so odgovorni vsi deležniki, od polja do mize, vključno s potrošnikom. Namen: Namen naloge je spremljati ravnanje zaposlenih pri ravnanju s sadjem in zelenjavo ter potrošnikov pri izbiranju in nakupu le-tega v dveh poslovalnicah izbrane trgovske verige. Želeli smo ugotoviti mikrobiološko onesnaženje izbranega svežega sadja in zelenjave na prodajnih policah ob odprtju trgovine in potem ob koncu delovnega časa. Metode dela: Vzorčenje in opazovanje smo v vsaki poslovalnici izvedli trikrat v poletnem obdobju. Ravnanje s sadjem in zelenjavo v trgovini smo opazovali pri 12 zaposlenih in skupno pri 120 potrošnikih, polovica je bilo žensk, polovica moških. Vsakokrat smo ob odprtju trgovine in pred zaprtjem iz istih prodajnih polic odvzeli po tri kose konvencionalno pridelanega sadja jabolk, breskev in grozdja ter zelenjave paprike, paradižnika in solate ter na njihovi površini z metodo štetja kolonij na trdnih gojiščih ugotavljali skupno število aerobnih mezofilnih in psihrotrofnih mikroorganizmov, število bakterij družine Enterobacteriaceae z bakterijo E. coli, Staphylococous spp., Micrococcus spp, Bacillus spp. in gliv. Rezultati: Skupno je 41,4 % potrošnikov, več je bilo žensk, med nakupovanjem sadja in zelenjave uporabljalo rokavice. Kar 95,3 % opazovanih potrošnikov je med nakupovanjem sadje in zelenjavo prebiralo in stiskalo. Med zaposlenimi je le eden uporabljal zaščitne rokavice. Polnjenje polic s sadjem in zelenjavo s tehniko stresanja je izvajal en zaposleni. Ostali so posamične kose na police polagali ročno. V času našega opazovanja so zaposleni 100-odstotno skrbeli za izločanje poškodovanega sadja in zelenjave. Salmonella je bila prisotna na površini šestih (8,3 %) vzorcev, vrste Listeria monocytogenes nismo ugotovili. Bakterijo E. coli v koncentraciji nad 102 CFU/100 cm2 smo potrdili pri petih (6,9 %) vzorcih, stafilokoke in bakterije rodu Bacillus v 94,4 % in plesni pri 98,6 % odvzetih vzorcih sadja in zelenjave. Povprečno skupno število aerobnih mezofilnih mikroorganizmov je bilo 6,25 log CFU/100 cm2 površine, najmanj na jabolku in največ na solati. Ugotovili smo statistično značilno višje število vseh skupin mikroorganizmov v večernih glede na jutranje vzorce sadja in zelenjave (p < 0,001). Razprava in zaključek: Pri potrošnikih smo opazili slabo ozaveščenost glede ustreznega ravnanja s sadjem in zelenjavo. Zaposleni so dosledno skrbeli za izločanje poškodovanega sadja in zelenjave. V večini so uporabljali pravilno tehniko polnjenja polic. Število vseh skupin mikroorganizmov je bilo v večini vzorcev višje od njihovega števila v jutranjih vzorcih. Ker smo prisotnost mikroorganizmov ugotavljali le na površini, ne moremo natančno opredeliti, ali so odvzeti vzorci skladni z zakonodajo.Introduction: Risks of microbiological contamination of fresh fruit and vegetables occur at all stages of its production, from the field/orchard to the consumer\u27s table. All the participants from the field to the table, including the consumer, are responsible for ensuring safe fruit and vegetables. Purpose: Monitor the behaviour of employees in the handling of fruit and vegetables and consumers in the selection and purchase of it in two branches of the selected retail chain. We wanted to determine the microbiological contamination of selected fresh fruits and vegetables on the shelves at the opening of the store and then at the end of business hours. Methods: Sampling and observations were performed at each branch three times during the summer period. The handling of fruit and vegetables in the store was observed in 12 employees and a total of 120 consumers, half were women and half were men. At the opening of the store and before closing, we collected three pieces of conventionally grown apple, peach and grape fruit, vegetablespeppers, tomatoes and lettuce from the same shelves and determined the total number of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms and psychrotrophs on their surface by counting colonies on solid media, number of bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae with E. coli, Staphylococous spp., Micrococcus spp., Bacillus spp. and fungi. Results: In total, 41.4% of consumers, more women, used gloves when shopping for fruit and vegetables. As many as 95.3% of the observed consumers picked up and squeezed fruit and vegetables while shopping. Among the employees, only one wore protective gloves. Filling the shelves with fruit and vegetables with the shaking out technique was performed by one employee. The rest of the individual produce was placed on the shelves by hand. At the time of our monitoring, employees took 100% care of removing damaged fruits and vegetables. Salmonella was present on the surface of 6 (8.3%) samples, Listeria monocytogenes was not detected. E. coli at a concentration above 102 CFU / 100 cm2 was confirmed in 5 (6.9%) samples, Staphylococci and bacteria of the genus Bacillus in 94.4% and mould in 98.6% of samples taken from fruit and vegetables. The average total number of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms was 6.25 log CFU / 100cm2 area, the least on apple and the most on lettuce. We found a statistically significant higher number of all groups of microorganisms in the evening compared to the morning samples of produce (p