Evaluación microbiológica de alimentos adquiridos en la vía pública en un sector del norte de Bogotá

Abstract

Diseases passed on by food, constitute one of the most generalized problems and of mayor repercussion on human health, affecting normally the most vulnerable population, children, pregnant women and old aged people. This research intended to obtain information on the presence of microbiological charge (Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli), present in food sold in streets of a northern area of Bogotá (Colombia), having in mind contributing factors, associated to the risk of microbial transmission. The food evaluated was represented by cornbread, hotdogs, hamburgers, empanadas, sausages, natural orange juice, fruit salad and “pelanga”, obtained from 15 ambulatory vents during twelve consecutive weeks, between February and May, 2008. Absence-presence microbiological tests were carried out and an 8% and a 25% of Salmonella spp. and E. coli, respectively, was obtained, being the microbiological risk evidence evident of food sold in the streets.