An evaluation of street-vended sliced papaya (Carica papaya) for bacteria and indicator micro-organisms of public health significance

Thirty samples of ripe papaya (Carica papaya) slices, collected in Calcutta from the itinerant roadside vendors were collected over a 3-month period. The papaya were tested for total aerobic plate count (TPC), coliform and fecal coliform counts, and various foodborne pathogens. TPCs ranged from 3·3 to 6·52 log cfu g−1 (average=5·96 log cfu g−1). Eleven samples had counts >6 log cfu g−1. Coliforms were detected in 70% of the samples with the average concentration being 13·5 g−1. The presence ofEscherichia coli was confirmed in 48% of the samples positive for coliforms. Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae were detected in one sample each, and low levels of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus were detected in 17% of the samples. An apparent relationship between high aerobic plate counts, detection of coliforms and the presence of enteric pathogens was observed.