Microbiological quality and presence of foodborne pathogens in fresh-squeezed orange juice samples purchased from street vendors and hygienic practices in Morelia, Mexico

Abstract

Few studies have screened fresh orange juice for the presence of foodborne pathogens. This study therefore evaluated the microbiological quality and occurrence of Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, and diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes (DEP) in fresh-squeezed orange juice purchased from street vendors in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico. The general hygienic practices of street vendors were poor. All 100 samples analyzed were positive for aerobic mesophilic bacteria, with concentrations ranging from 2.41 to 6.03 log CFU/mL. A total of 90 (90%), 35 (35%), and 14 (14%) samples were positive for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli, respectively, present with concentrations ranging from < 1 to 4.84 log CFU/mL, < 3 to > 1,100 MPN/mL, and < 3 to 210 MPN/mL, respectively. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples, whereas Shigella sonnei was isolated from one sample. Two samples were positive for DEP; one harbored ETEC strains and the other STEC strains. Our results highlight the elevated risk for consumer health associated with the ingestion of fresh-squeezed orange juice.