Incidence of faecal streptococci as an indicator of sanitation in ice-cream and frozen vegetables

Abstract

Fifty-three ice-cream and fifty-five frozen vegetable samples, collected from two different factories, were analysed for total coliform bacteria, faecal coliform bacteria and faecal streptococci so that the value of faecal streptococci as an indicator of faecal contamination and sanitation in ice-cream and frozen vegetables could be evaluated. Thirty-two per cent of the ice-cream samples and 73% of the frozen vegetable samples were positive for coliform bacteria, whereas only 4% of the ice-cream samples and 24% of the frozen vegetable samples contained faecal coliform bacteria. Occurrence of faecal streptococci in the ice-cream and frozen vegetable samples were 81 and 75%, respectively. These results indicate that there is no direct relationship between the presence of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci, and the high occurrence of faecal streptococci in frozen foods examined suggests that faecal streptococci is a better sanitary indicator in frozen food products.