TITLE:
Evaluation of Microbiological Contamination in Fruit Juices and Sensitivity of Isolates to Radiation
AUTHORS:
Sirajul Islam, Rehana Begum, Md. Raihan Ali, Sikder M. Asaduzzaman, Nayeema Bulbul, Jinath Sultana Jime, Abdullah-Al-Mahin
KEYWORDS:
Microbiological Contamination, Fruit Juice, Preservation, Radiation Sensitivity
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.16 No.4,
April
22,
2025
ABSTRACT: Microbiological analysis of fruit juices of four companies collected from retail businesses of four different areas of Dhaka and its surrounding area was conducted. The purpose of the survey was to improve the knowledge and understanding of the microbiological risk of locally available packed fruit juices. All samples were analysed for total viable bacterial count (TVBC), total Staphylococcus count (TSC), total coliform count (TCC), total faecal coliform count (TFCC), total Aeromonas count (TAC), and total fungal count (TFC). Among the juice samples (JP, JM, JA and JS), TVBC, TSC, TCC and TFC ranged between 3.5 × 104 to 2.0 × 102 cfu/ml, 2.5 × 103 to 1.3 × 102 cfu/ml, 1.9 × 102 to 1.0 × 102 cfu/ml and 2.0 × 102 to 0.5 × 102 cfu/ml respectively. Isolated microorganisms were then further identified. Among the sixteen juice samples two were found unsatisfactory and rest 14 were moderately satisfactory according to the microbiological point of view. Radiation effect on isolated microorganisms indicated that 7 kGy was effective to eliminate both Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus; 3 kGy, 2 kGy and 1 kGy for Escherichia coli, Enterterobacter aerogenes and Lactobacillus fermentum and 9 kGy for Streptococcus lactis, Alcaligenes faecalis and Acinetobacter colcoaceticos. Bacillus sereus survived even at 10 kGy. At 3 kGy gamma radiation dose Aspergillus niger, Penecillum spp. and Fusarium spp. were completely eliminated.