Microbiological quality of fresh lettuce sold at Lilongwe market, Malawi: Does purchasing time matter?

Abstract

Fifteen (15) samples of fresh lettuce were bought from Lilongwe city market, Malawi in the morning, afternoon and evening and were examined for microbiological quality. Counts ranged from 1.2×10 5 to 6.9×10 5 cfu/g for total Enterobacteriaceae and 1.5×10 4 to 1.1×10 6 mpn/g for total coliforms. Higher total Enterobacteriaceae and total coliform counts in the afternoon samples and presence of fecal coliforms in all evening samples suggested that comparatively safer lettuce was sold in the morning. Poor handling practices at the market and temperature abuse could be responsible for contamination and microbial proliferation during retail of the lettuce.