%0 Journal Article
%T Is Local Produce Safer? Microbiological Quality of Fresh Lettuce and Spinach from Grocery Stores and Farmers' Markets
%A Emiria Soendjojo
%J JPUR : Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research
%D 2012
%I Purdue University Press
%X There is a growing demand for fresh, safe, high-quality, and locally grown vegetables. This study compared microbial populations in Romaine lettuce, Bibb lettuce, and spinach procured from grocery stores and farmers¡¯ markets throughout the course of a summer. Standard microbial techniques were used to analyze 42 samples for the presence of total aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria; yeasts and molds; surface and internalized coliforms and Escherichia coli; and the pathogens E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. Large variations in counts were found between produce types, sampling days, and between grocery and farmers¡¯ market samples. The average highest microbial loads were associated with spinach samples from the grocery store, with both total aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic counts greater than 7.1 log CFU/g. Average psychrophilic counts were higher than mesophilic microorganisms in all samples tested. In general, lettuce from farmers¡¯ markets had more bacterial, yeast, and mold presence than lettuce from grocery stores.
%U http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=jpur